On 30 March 2025, a crucial stakeholders’ meeting was convened by the Kerala Chief Minister in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, to address the increasing concerns about drug addiction and violence among children and youth in Kerala. Among the key stakeholders, and representing BREADS’ Drug Rehabilitation Education & Mentoring (DREAM) initiative, was Fr. Philip Parakatt (DREAM State Director & former member of the Kerala Child Rights Commission) and Mr. Anoop (DREAM State Coordinator). The discussions acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasised the collective responsibility of all sectors in addressing these challenges.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan acknowledged the alarming statistics of children and youth suffering from drug addiction in the state and the need for a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to address this growing issue. The Chief Minister also shared the idea of a web portal that would allow ordinary citizens to anonymously report drug peddling. Underscoring the importance of collaboration among government and non-governmental organisations, and other relevant sectors, he proposed the formation of specialised vigilance committees with qualified individuals for the monitoring and addressal of drug-related activities in the state.
The Chief Minister emphasised that political or administrative adjustments alone would not suffice to bring about meaningful change. Instead, a community-driven approach, focused on prevention, awareness, and rehabilitation, is needed to effectively combat these issues. This perspective was widely supported by the participants, who agreed that an integrated approach involving both governmental and community efforts would be key to success. In a Q&A session, participants highlighted the importance of increased outreach and engagement with local communities, schools, and parents. The exchange of ideas during this session contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions.
DREAM, a flagship initiative of BREADS Bangalore, has been a major player in the fight against drug addiction and violence among children since its launch in 2021. It has created awareness among 400,000 school students and 90,000 college students, and helped 51,000 youth across Kerala to cope with addiction-related challenges through counselling and mentoring services. The DREAM rehabilitation centre in Monvila, Thiruvananthapuram, has helped 204 children recover from substance abuse so far.
In fulfilment of its envisaged programmatic impact, in the upcoming days, the DREAM initiative will play a key role in collaborating with the State and other stakeholders in helping the children and youth of Kerala to dream beyond drugs.
