Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) Anti-Drug Committee is set to observe Global Anti-Drug Day on June 26 with a comprehensive series of awareness programs and educational initiatives across the state of Kerala. In a bid to combat the rising menace of drug addiction, particularly among youth, the Church-led campaign will focus on spreading awareness, encouraging collective responsibility, and promoting a drug-free lifestyle among students and the wider community.
The state-level inauguration of the observance will be held at St. Joseph’s Model School in Kuriachira, Thrissur, at 11:30 a.m. The event will be inaugurated by Yuhanon Mar Theodosius Metropolitan, who currently serves as the Chairman of the KCBC Anti-Drug Commission. Several senior leaders of the Commission, including Fr. John Areekkal, Prasad Kuruvila, Fr. Devassi Pantallookkaran, Antonikutty Chethalan, and K.A. Abraham, will be delivering keynote addresses at the event. Their messages will focus on the dangers of drug abuse, the importance of early intervention, and the moral and spiritual responsibility of communities to fight against substance dependence.
In a circular released by the KCBC Anti-Drug Commission ahead of the observance, all educational institutions affiliated with the Church in Kerala have been directed to conduct special assemblies on June 26. During these assemblies, students and staff will take an anti-drug pledge and receive a message underscoring the spiritual, social, and health-related consequences of narcotic use. The initiative is expected to reach thousands of students across the state and serve as a collective reaffirmation of the Church's commitment to protecting youth from addiction.
Simultaneously, the 32 diocesan centers under the KCBC will host a variety of district-level programs and conferences, each inaugurated by a prominent bishop or Church dignitary. These regional observances are expected to include speeches, interactive sessions, student rallies, poster campaigns, and cultural events that reinforce the theme of anti-drug awareness.
Some of the key diocesan events include:
• Bishop Mar Peter Kochupurackal leading the anti-drug rally and awareness event at St. Thomas HSS in Olavakkode, Palakkad.
• Bishop Dr. Paul Antony Mullassery inaugurating the program at Trinity Lyceum HSS, Kollam, with participation from local parish communities.
• Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt presiding over the event at Alphonsa College, Pala, with students and educators joining in solidarity.
• Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Theodosius also participating in the anti-drug observance at St. Paul’s HSS, Veliyanad, Muvattupuzha, underlining the significance of collective action in addressing the issue.
The KCBC's Anti-Drug Day observance is part of a long-term mission to instill a culture of resistance against substance abuse. The Church in Kerala has been actively promoting anti-drug education through schools, catechism programs, youth movements, and parish-level awareness campaigns. With increasing incidents of drug addiction being reported across educational institutions and among adolescents, the Church views this as not merely a public health crisis, but a spiritual and moral battle that requires united action.
In his message ahead of the observance, Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Theodosius emphasized that the drug crisis is a threat to the spiritual wellbeing, social harmony, and future of the youth. He called upon teachers, clergy, parents, and civic authorities to join forces in providing guidance, support, and strong preventive education.
The KCBC hopes that this year’s Global Anti-Drug Day will serve as a catalyst for deeper engagement among families, institutions, and society in building a future free from the grip of narcotics. With large-scale participation expected across Kerala, the campaign aims to reinforce the values of discipline, self-respect, and faith-based resilience cornerstones of a drug-free life.