Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Kerala Police Launches PODA to Combat Drug Abuse Among Youth
The Kerala Police have started a new program called PODA to help stop young professionals from using drugs.
They found that many young people, especially those working in private companies, are using drugs.
The police have already caught many people with drugs this year.
The PODA program will ask companies to make their employees promise not to use drugs and to take drug tests sometimes.
This will help keep the workplace safe and healthy.
Many big business groups support this idea, and some companies are already joining the program.
Kerala Police launched the Prevention of Drug Abuse (PODA) initiative to combat drug abuse among young professionals.
The initiative includes strict enforcement and workplace-level prevention, involving private-sector employers.
A survey identified that drug abuse is most prevalent among financially independent youth aged 25 to 35, particularly in the private sector.
Companies will require employees to sign a declaration pledging to abstain from drug use and consent to periodic drug testing.
The initial phase involves 21 companies employing nearly 1,100 young professionals.
- Who
- Kerala Police and private-sector employers
- What
- Launch of the Prevention of Drug Abuse (PODA) initiative
- When
- Announced on Tuesday
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Why
- To tackle rising drug abuse among young professionals, particularly in the private sector
- Initiative Name
- Prevention of Drug Abuse (PODA)
- Announced By
- State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar
- Cases Registered
- 30,991
- Commercial Quantity Seizures
- 349
- Intermediate Quantity Cases
- 957
- Small Quantity Cases
- 7,718
- Target Age Group
- 25 to 35
- Initial Companies Involved
- 21
- Employees in Initial Phase
- 1,100