Himachal Chief Minister Sukhu: Zero tolerance for heroin sellers, support for addicted youth

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed an anti‑drug awareness walkathon in Una on September 16, 2026. He said the state's policy is uncompromising toward those who sell heroin (referred to in local usage as "chitta") and that legal action will be taken against traffickers. At the same time, Sukhu said the government will adopt a compassionate approach for young people already addicted, offering every possible support to help them recover.

Sukhu stated plainly that sellers of chitta who "destroy the lives of our youth for money" have no place in Himachal. He described a two‑track response: enforcement against suppliers and traffickers, and rehabilitation for addicts. He credited the police with ongoing efforts to dismantle drug networks but warned that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.

Sukhu appealed to families, friends, teachers and society to prevent the first use of drugs. He urged young people to report drug sales and not remain silent when they encounter trafficking. His message positions drug prevention as a shared responsibility: arrests and laws matter, but social networks are the front line for early prevention.

Separately, an event in Chandigarh co‑hosted by the Press Information Bureau and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) discussed the Centre's vision document for 2026–29. That roadmap emphasizes a network‑centric enforcement model and lists measures to address synthetic drugs, darknet‑enabled trafficking, prevention among youth, expanded access to treatment and rehabilitation, and stronger coordinated action over three years.

• State-level enforcement: Sukhu said strict action will follow the law against sellers and traffickers. The police are executing continuous operations to break drug networks.

• Call to civic action: Families, teachers and communities are explicitly named as key actors to stop a child's first exposure to drugs.

Why readers in Himachal and neighbouring states should pay attention

Himachal shares borders and social ties with states where synthetic opioid and other drug problems have been prominent. A combined approach—legal enforcement plus community prevention and rehabilitation—shapes how local authorities will allocate resources and engage civil society. The Centre's 2026–29 vision suggests complementary national measures on enforcement and treatment that may affect funding, interagency cooperation and priorities in the coming years.

The announcement outlines policy direction rather than new, detailed programs or funding lines. The effectiveness of this approach will depend on how enforcement and rehabilitation measures are implemented at district and community levels, and on how coordination is carried out with central agencies and neighbouring states.

Himachal's leadership is framing the drug challenge as both a law‑and‑order issue and a public health concern. The state intends to pursue traffickers vigorously while expanding compassionate support for addicted youth, and it is asking communities to take an active role in preventing initial drug use.