Shimla, Nov. 18 -- Social justice and empowerment minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil on Tuesday urged youth, women, senior officers, employees and citizens of Himachal Pradesh to stay aware of the ill effects of drug abuse.

Shandil, also state's health minister, was speaking during a the state-level event to mark the completion of five years of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan during which he administered an anti-drug pledge to all participants. The campaign has been running successfully across all states of the country for the past five years, with the aim of spreading awareness among youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Shandil urged youth, women, senior officers, employees and citizens of Him...