BREADS and its Don Bosco partners released the report of the DREAM impact study in a simple, well-represented gathering in the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram on 17 May 2025. The report was released by Hon. Dr John Brittas (MP, Rajya Sabha) and received by Dr Arun S Nair (Director, Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala), in the presence of Fr Shalbin Kalanchery (Vice Provincial, Salesian Province of Bangalore), Ms Reshmi Omanakuttan, Deputy VP, Federal Bank, and other dignitaries. The BREADS executive team, the DREAM District Directors and teams were also present.
The impact assessment marked the conclusion of the 40-month phase of BREADS’ Drug Rehabilitation Education and Mentoring (DREAM) programme across 10 districts in Kerala. BREADS had commissioned Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (RCSS), Kalamassery, to conduct an independent assessment of the DREAM initiative. Their findings, documented in the study report, were presented by Dr Reena Cherian from RCSS, to all the important DREAM stakeholders, including representatives from key departments of the Kerala government, and the press.
Moderated by Fr. Philip Parakatt, State Director-DREAM, and former member of the Kerala State Child Rights Commission; a panel discussion enabled key government officials to share their departmental efforts in preventing substance abuse among children and youth. The panellists included Smt. Jalaja S, Additional Director of the Department of Social Justice; Adv. Shaniba Beegam, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee; Dr Kiran P. S., State Nodal Officer for Mental Health; Shri Pradeep V. A., Joint Excise Commissioner (VIMUKTHI) and Smt. Suja S. J., District Child Protection Officer, Trivandrum. Dr R. Jayaprakash, Chief of the Behavioural Paediatrics Unit at SAT Hospital, offered an insightful session on substance use and mental health.
The chief guests and the government stakeholders were unanimous in their acknowledgement and appreciation of DREAM’s contribution to the prevention of substance abuse among the young, an issue of urgent importance in Kerala. Reinforcing the findings of the DREAM impact study, the speakers reiterated that the components of awareness, counselling and particularly the de-addiction services offered by Don Bosco Sadan, were most relevant even crucial, coherent, impactful and effective. All the speakers urged the Don Bosco network to expand their efficient services and even start rehabilitation for girls.
DREAM addressed the escalating challenges of substance use and addictions among children and youth in Kerala, through a multi-pronged strategy encompassing prevention, counselling, rehabilitation, capacity building and intersectoral collaboration with multiple stakeholders, especially the state government. DREAM reached over 421,181 school students and 103,529 college youth through awareness programmes, training 3,055 student leaders as peer influencers. DREAM trained 3,876 teachers, 300,562 parents and 681 volunteers to prevent addiction in their local spheres of influence. Advocacy took the campaign against drug abuse to 88,231 people in the ten districts. DREAM mentored 50,334 children and youth and counselled 5,606 youngsters struggling with addictive habits. DREAM’s de-addiction and rehabilitation centre exclusively for boys below 18 years, Don Bosco Sadan in Monvila, Thiruvananthapuram, successfully treated 208 boys for addictions.
The release of the DREAM assessment report not only celebrated its impact so far but also reaffirmed the collective commitment of civil society, government departments, and development organisations in building a drug-free future for Kerala’s youth.
