VELLORE: To commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, members of the Vellore district unit of the Pharmacists Association and the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau organised a rally to create awareness among the public about the ill-effects of narcotics and other drugs.
The rally saw the participation of the students of various schools, who held placards and banners highlighting the need for public to shun drugs.
Pamphlets that portrayed the ill-effects of drugs were also distributed at the rally.
The participants also pointed out that the consumption of drugs would attract AIDS, render people infertile, lead to nervous breakdown, curtailing family relationship and ending in miserable death.
The pamphlets urged the youngsters to take a pledge on this day to avoid becoming victims to drugs.
The police officials issued a warning notice that the act of smuggling, holding, stocking, buying or selling and consuming drugs would attract punishment of upto 10 years of imprisonment.
The district unit of the Indian Red Cross Society, in association with the Vellore Jaycees, Kumaran and BPR Nursing Colleges, Government Muthurangam Arts College and Mahalakshmi Arts and Science College Arcot organised a walkathon to commemorate the day near the old bus-stand. The rally was flagged off by Collector R Nanthagopal.