MUMBAI: Kerala’s battle cry against narcotics is getting louder and this time, it’s echoing through Kottayam. News18 Kerala’s anti-drug drive, AD 2025, is drawing packed crowds, celebrity cheer, and spirited debate as it rolls across the state, determined to keep Kerala high on hope, not on drugs. After firing up audiences in Cochin on 10 June and Kozhikode on 15 July, the campaign now heads to K.E. College, Mannanam, on 26 August, from 10:00 am. The roadshow culminates in a grand finale in Thiruvananthapuram next month, but not before it sparks yet another round of tough conversations and cultural performances.
Each stop so far has been more than a lecture, it’s been a movement. From unpacking the root causes of drug use to spotlighting law enforcement, from discussing how addiction tears through families to stressing early intervention and education, the campaign has stitched together the voices of government, media, NGOs and citizens into a single powerful chorus: collective responsibility.
The earlier editions saw top dignitaries, police officials, excise officers, celebrities, and cultural icons share the stage, stirring both thought and emotion. Audiences, especially the youth responded with enthusiasm, pledging to act against a menace that has seeped into communities.
The Kottayam edition promises no less. On the panel: the district collector, police commissioner, excise officer, a social influencer, a psychologist, a student representative and more, ensuring every perspective from law to lived experience is on the table.
With turnout and public engagement already exceeding expectations, AD 2025 is proving to be more than a campaign. It’s becoming Kerala’s collective pledge for a drug-free tomorrow.
