Hyderabad: The government of Telangana will act firmly to eliminate the menace of drugs, said Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday.

Voicing concern that youngsters were becoming drug addicts, he appealed to people to cooperate with the law-enforcing agencies in eliminating the menace. He was addressing an event organised by the Telangana State Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB) in Hyderabad on the eve of International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking.

“Police or government alone can’t root out this problem. The entire society has to come forward to cooperate as saving the future of the young generation is the responsibility of every citizen,” he said. Stating that the menace of drugs is spreading from cities to villages, he said the government was determined to make Telangana drugs-free. He urged the committees constituted in schools and colleges to cooperate with the police.

“The drug menace is destroying the youth who are the future of this state and the nation. Every citizen should consider it his responsibility to save the young generation,” he said.