Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to warn the nation's youth against the menace of drugs, saying 'darkness, destruction and devastation' are the 3Ds of drugs.
"Darkness, destruction and devastation are the 3Ds of drugs. Drugs are something that can shatter anyone. This is a psycho-socio-medical problem and we need to see it this way, we shouldn't blame the person," said Prime Minister Modi in his third 'Mann Ki Baat' address on All India Radio.
Urging the youth to give up this habit, he emphasized that drugs, not addicts, were the problem.
"When a youngster gets addicted to drugs we consider him/her bad. But the truth is the drugs are bad not the youth. Sometimes with friends, people feel drugs are cool and it is a style statement. But this leads to serious problems," the Prime Minister said.
"Have the courage to say no (to drugs) and reject drugs. Tell your friends the same too," he added.
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Prime Minister Modi, whose first two radio addresses were widely heard and reported, also asked the people to consider how the money they spend on drugs is used.
"I want to ask - perhaps for those few hours you feel it is a different life, free of troubles but where does the money you spend go. Have you thought- the bullet that has hit the soldier has the money of your drugs. We cannot help terrorists and drug mafia," he said.
The Prime Minister also had a word of advice for parents on how to save their children from the hazard of drugs.
"Bad habits don't start all of a sudden. It happens over time. Parents should study those changes happening and can save the children. For good education children leave their homes and go to hostels for boarding life. There too this problem can happen," he stated.
The Prime Minister also called for a "Drug Free India" Movement on the social media and stressed on the need to spread more awareness on the issue.
"On social media, let's start a movement with #DrugFreeIndia. This can become a means of 'Lok Shiksha'. I urge celebrities be it sportsman, film personalities, from all walks of life people must spread awareness on the issue," he said.
The Prime Minister had earlier invited people to talk on the issue on MyGov Open Forum on mitigating the menace and steps to get youngsters out of it.
