Awareness over Addiction

Drug Free India

A national movement for drug prevention.

An initiative of Being Drug Free ®, advancing the vision of a Drug Free Earth through events, education and community engagement.

Being Drug Free ®
Vijay Karthik Acharya Foundation
12A Tax-registered 80G Donations tax-exempt CSR CSR-1 registered
e eAnudaan
D NGO Darpan
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Problem

Drug Abuse & Addiction

Substance Abuse (or Drug Abuse) and Addiction affects the brain and behaviour, causing lifestyle diseases, disability and death, across individuals, families and communities.

316M+
People used drugs worldwide in 2023
UNODC World Drug Report 2025
64M
People living with drug use disorders in 2023
UNODC World Drug Report 2025
~600K
Deaths attributable to drug use annually
WHO, latest available global estimates
15 to 64
Age group used for UNODC's global drug-use estimate
UNODC World Drug Report 2025
A Global Challenge

Drug use requires a global solution

Drug abuse and addiction cross every border. Drug Free India is the first step towards a Drug Free Earth, joining local action on our campuses and communities to a worldwide movement for health.

Worldwide
Awareness over addiction
India
Where the movement begins
Local
Campuses and communities
The Movement

Prevention · Protection · Promotion

Preventing drug use, protecting health and promoting wellbeing.

🌱

Prevention

Build awareness and informed choices before drug-related harm occurs.

🛡️

Protection

Strengthen individuals, families and communities against drug-related harm.

📣

Promotion

Promote healthy lifestyles, positive behaviours and community participation.

Our Vision

A global movement to Unite for Health ® for a Drug Free Earth.

Our Mission

To reduce the health impact of drug abuse and addiction through events, education and community engagement.

The Founder

The person behind the movement

Vijay Karthik Acharya, Founder of Being Drug Free ®
VK

Vijay Karthik Acharya

Founder, Being Drug Free ®  ·  Fashion Designer & Creative Professional

An alumnus of team I, Vijay is a fashion designer and creative professional with an interdisciplinary background spanning fashion, design, innovation and psychology. He has studied at three fashion institutions, including NIFT Bengaluru, and pursued Product Innovation and Design Thinking at IIT Delhi.

He is currently completing his MSc in Psychology at Jain University, where his research focuses on awareness and attitudes towards the prevention of diseases associated with drug use.

He founded Being Drug Free ® to reduce the health impact of drug abuse and addiction.

In his own words

“I started Being Drug Free ® in 2015 because of my own health issues and life experiences. I travelled to many hospitals, confined to a wheelchair, and heard patient stories of pain and suffering. These experiences inspired me to build a framework for human development that brings people together to address health problems and help each other live healthier lives.”

Objectives

What the campaign sets out to do

01

Increase Awareness

Build understanding of drug abuse, addiction and prevention, and their impact on individuals, families and communities.

02

Promote Prevention

Encourage informed choices, early awareness and healthier lifestyles before drug-related harm occurs.

03

Empower Youth

Create opportunities for young people to participate, lead and become advocates for drug prevention.

04

Engage Communities

Encourage communities to take an active role in awareness, prevention and positive social change.

05

Build Collaboration

Bring together educational institutions, NGOs, corporates, event partners and government stakeholders.

06

Long-Term Impact

Develop a scalable awareness movement that grows from state initiatives into a nationwide Drug Free India.

Awareness to Prevention

Unite for Health ®

Events that bring people together and raise funds to support those affected.

The Event League, team I Events powered by The Event League  ·  delivered by team I
Marathon

Being Drug Free ® Run

A run for a Drug Free Earth, organised across cities, uniting communities behind prevention and healthier living.

Conference

Being Drug Free ® Summit

Connecting global leaders, speakers and student ambassadors to drive the movement forward.

Campus

College & School Programmes

Learning sessions, workshops and prevention-focused activations delivered directly on campus.

Community

Roadshows & Activations

Community outreach and public awareness activations that put the message where people are.

Awareness to Action

Building Health Culture ®

For schools and colleges to connect and build healthier campus environments, through the Being Drug Free ® Campus Program.

Students join the movement through four Being Drug Free ® components:

Learn · Live · Lead

Being Drug Free ® Student Ambassador

Selected students lead peer awareness, campaigns, events and creative activations through the year, as part of the Being Drug Free ® Movement.

Community

Being Drug Free ® Student Club

A student-led community for continuous engagement, outreach and leadership, keeping a drug-free campus culture alive all year round.

Identity

Being Drug Free ® Student Merchandise

A curated range of campus merchandise that builds identity, awareness and pride, making participation in the movement visible on campus.

Contribute

Being Drug Free ® Student Volunteer

Individuals join and contribute to the movement through campus activities, events and campaigns.

Institutions, bring the program to your campus. Individuals, join as a volunteer to contribute through campus activities, events and campaigns. Write to us at contact@drugfree.earth.

Poster Design Challenge

Being Drug Free ®

Watch the campaign film and design a poster on the theme “How Drugs = …”. The best entries feature at Being Drug Free ® events.

AccidentsAddictionChild AbuseCrimeDisabilityDiseasesInjuriesMalnutritionNegligencePollutionPovertySuicideTraumaViolence
World Drug Day
26
June 2026
Road Map

From State to Nation to Earth

1

Foundation

Build partnerships, infrastructure and volunteer networks.

2

Drug Free Karnataka

Launch and test the campaign model.

3

State Expansion

Replicate across participating states.

4

Drug Free India

Connect states into a nationwide movement.

5

Drug Free Earth

Take the vision beyond India.

Get Involved

Be part of Drug Free India

Every partner collaborates according to its strengths, resources and areas of interest.

🎓

Academic Partners

Student volunteering, campus programmes, research and internships.

🤝

NGO & Civil Society

Community outreach, implementation and volunteer mobilisation.

🎪

Event Partners

Marathons, roadshows, awareness events and public activations.

🏢

Corporate & CSR

Funding, sponsorship and employee participation.

🏛️

Government

Institutional collaboration and state-level initiatives.

📣

Media & Digital

Campaign visibility and public awareness.

Fund a Drug Free India, the tax-smart way

Vijay Karthik Acharya Foundation is fully registered to receive and account for donations and corporate CSR contributions, with tax benefits for donors.

12A ↗80G ↗CSR-1 ↗eAnudaanNGO Darpan