June 26 is observed worldwide as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — designated by the United Nations. Tamil Nadu's Start Run Stop Drugs marathon on this exact date is a powerful, deliberate statement by the CM Vijay government: the fight against drugs is not just a policy priority, it is a people's movement.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on June 26, 2026 — Day 47 in office and the International Day Against Drug Abuse — participated in the ஸ்டார்ட் RUN ஸ்டாப் DRUGS (Start Run Stop Drugs) Anti-Drug Awareness Run 2026 organised by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). The run commenced at 6:00 AM from Anna Memorial, Chennai, and was held simultaneously across all 38 district headquarters in Tamil Nadu. More than 10,000 participants joined in what became one of the largest anti-drug awareness runs in the state's history.
CM Vijay Leads by Example
By personally participating in the run — not just flagging it off from a dais but joining the runners — CM Vijay sent a powerful message to Tamil Nadu's youth. The anti-drug mission is one he has championed since his very first day in office, when he signed a Government Order establishing dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces across all police districts on May 10, 2026. Running on International Anti-Drug Day is a continuation of that commitment — moving it from the government file to the street.
What Is the Start Run Stop Drugs Run?
The SDAT-organised event was conceived in line with CM Vijay's vision of a Drug-Free Tamil Nadu. It is an awareness run open to anyone above 14 years of age, designed to engage youth, students and the general public in a shared commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Participants registered online through the SDAT services portal, and the run was simultaneously held at all 38 district headquarters — meaning lakhs of Tamil Nadu's youth across the state took part on the same morning.
CM Vijay had promised "Anti-Drug Protection Zones" in all schools and colleges across Tamil Nadu in the TVK manifesto. The Anti-Drug Run, the ANTF units across all districts, and the government's ongoing enforcement push are all part of a systematic delivery on that promise — 47 days into office.
The Drug-Free Tamil Nadu Mission
Since taking charge, the Vijay government has pursued a dual approach to the drug problem — tough enforcement on supply chains combined with mass awareness to reduce demand. On Day 1, anti-narcotic task forces were established in every police district. The Singappen Athiradi Padai (women's safety force) also has an anti-drug protection mandate in its brief. The June 26 run is the awareness dimension of this strategy — reaching youth through sport rather than only through law enforcement.
Tamil Nadu has witnessed a sharp rise in narcotics cases in recent years, with NDPS cases more than doubling between 2020 and 2022. CM Vijay's government has made dismantling drug networks one of its core non-negotiable priorities — and today's run, with over 10,000 participants across 38 districts, shows that message has resonated with the people.
