Friendship, positive peer influence, and the active pursuit of genuine passions emerged as the most effective shields against substance abuse at a CBSE Talkathon held in New Delhi on 20 September 2026, bringing together school principals, psychiatry experts, narcotics officials, and students in a wide-ranging conversation on building a Nasha Mukt Yuva.

Experts Explain the Science of Addiction

Prof. Nand Kumar, from the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi, explained that every drug hijacks the brain's reward circuit, generating intense pleasure that everyday activities simply cannot replicate. He stressed that supportive environments — not lectures alone — and the courage to say 'no' are what genuinely protect developing minds. His remarks underlined a growing clinical consensus that peer environment shapes behaviour far more than information campaigns.

Anish C, Additional Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), issued a sharp warning: illicit drugs in circulation today are largely synthetic and highly potent, with even a single instance of use capable of causing severe damage to an adolescent brain. He urged young people to find their real 'kick' in sports, creative pursuits, and extra-curricular activities.

Students Lead the Conversation

Class 12 student Rohit articulated a nuanced understanding of peer responsibility, saying a true friend's role is to understand the underlying mental stress or peer pressure that pushes someone toward substances — and then offer quiet, steady support, involving trusted adults or school authorities when needed.

Classmate Samya made a pointed observation: condemnation only isolates users further, while reassurance — 'You are not alone; we will support you' — builds community resilience. Both students' interventions drew applause from the panel, reinforcing the view that student-led campaigns carry greater credibility among peers than adult-driven ones.

Principal Alka Awasthi of Mayur School, Noida, joined students in showcasing posters designed by schoolchildren bearing messages such as 'Healthy Youth Equal to Strong Nation', 'Break the Roots of Habit Before They Break You', and 'Wipe Out the Drugs Before They Wipe You Out.'

The Social Normalisation Problem

The panel raised particular concern about the normalisation of alcohol, hookah, and vapes at parties and weddings. Experts observed that adolescent brains are still developing impulse-control capacities, and exposure at this stage directly interferes with healthy neurological growth. They recommended that schools initiate age-appropriate conversations early enough for young people to themselves influence adults around them to change harmful social practices — a form of reverse peer pressure that panellists said has been underutilised.

Safe Spaces and What Comes Next

A recurring theme across the session was the critical importance of safe spaces — environments where students can ask questions and seek help without fear of harsh consequences. Panellists noted that non-verbal gestures of support, such as a reassuring presence, often open doors to disclosure more effectively than words. Willpower to refuse substances, they added, strengthens measurably when young people are surrounded by friends who actively respect boundaries.

The Talkathon concluded with a collective call to advance the vision of a 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' for a developed India, combining awareness campaigns, strong peer networks, early reporting through channels such as the NCB helpline 1933, and the courage to seek help without embarrassment.