Bihar launches month-long anti-drug campaign via grassroots workers

Bihar is set to launch a comprehensive anti-substance abuse campaign beginning October 27, extending through November 26, with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary formally inaugurating the initiative. The drive, branded as the Nasha Mukti Vahini (Drug De-addiction Force), will deploy trained community health workers, known locally as Jeevikas Didis, to conduct door-to-door awareness sessions across the state.

The campaign will focus on educating residents about the harmful effects of alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and charas (hashish). Community volunteers will supplement household visits with organized programs at schools, colleges, panchayats, and the numerous Chhath festival gathering sites along the Ganges, maximizing reach during peak community engagement periods.

To facilitate public participation and lodge complaints, authorities have established two toll-free helpline numbers. The month-long initiative represents Bihar's efforts to combat rising substance abuse through community-centric interventions rather than enforcement-only approaches, leveraging existing grassroots women's networks to deliver prevention messaging.