Bhubaneswar: Marking Friendship Day with a message of inclusion and hope, social worker and drug prevention advocate Dr Mohammad Imran Ali has prepared India’s first Braille book on substance use prevention titled ‘Yes to Life, No to Drugs’.
The publication has been brought out by Salaam Jeevan, a voluntary organization dedicated to health promotion, drug use prevention, disability inclusion, and youth development.
The Braille book has been specially designed for children and young persons with visual impairment to ensure that life-saving information on drug prevention reaches those who are often excluded from mainstream awareness materials. Written in simple and accessible language, the book explains the causes, harmful effects, and long-term consequences of tobacco, alcohol, and other addictive substances. It emphasizes that awareness, education, and informed decision-making are the strongest tools for preventing addiction.
The publication advocates a collaborative approach to substance use prevention by highlighting the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, schools, communities, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and government institutions in creating a healthy, safe, and addiction-free India.
The book is aligned with the objectives of the Government of India’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and contributes to the vision of Vikshit Bharat by promoting awareness, prevention, rehabilitation, and social inclusion. By making this resource available in Braille, Salaam Jeevan has taken a pioneering step towards ensuring that persons with visual impairment are actively included in the national movement against substance use.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Imran said, “Awareness is the first step towards prevention, and accessibility to information is a fundamental right. Every child and young person, including those with visual impairment, deserves equal access to knowledge that can protect their health, dignity, and future.”
Dr Imran further informed that the book will be delivered free of cost to visually impaired readers through the postal network, enabling students, special schools, libraries, rehabilitation centres, and organizations working for persons with disabilities to access this important educational resource without any financial burden.
As India’s first Braille publication exclusively dedicated to drug prevention, “Yes to Life, No to Drugs” represents a significant milestone in inclusive public health education. It is expected to strengthen national efforts towards protecting children and youth from substance use while reinforcing the vision of an inclusive, healthy, and addiction-free India.
