Ram Pothineni and Budda Aruna Reddy Urge Hyderabad Youth to Avoid Drugs

Tollywood actor Ram Pothineni and Indian artistic gymnast Budda Aruna Reddy urged youth and students in Hyderabad to stay away from drugs and focus on physical fitness during an awareness event on Friday. Organized by the EAGLE Force, the program was held to mark the 'International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking'.

Addressing the gathering of students, Pothineni spoke about the peer pressure associated with the popular "YOLO" (You Only Live Once) mindset. He warned the youth that there are people who use this catchphrase to influence others into trying drugs at least once. He urged the students to beware of such individuals and to outright reject their influence.

The actor shared a personal experience from a trip abroad to illustrate his point. Pothineni recalled meeting a man who was a drug abuser and a strong proponent of the YOLO mindset. Pothineni stated that speaking to the man saddened him and instilled a deep fear in him about the reality of substance abuse. He cautioned the students that drugs are highly addictive, noting that if someone tries them even once, it is not easy to recover.

Gymnast Budda Aruna Reddy also spoke at the event, addressing the reasons why some people fall into drug addiction. She noted that some individuals turn to drugs in an attempt to escape stress. Instead of resorting to substance abuse, Reddy advised the youth to channel their energy positively and focus on physical fitness, which she said would benefit them in the long run.

Reddy shared her own story of determination to motivate the students. She spoke about how she managed to become a successful athlete despite having to undergo six surgeries throughout her career. She encouraged the audience to say no to drugs while saying yes to staying fit.

The event organized by EAGLE Force aimed to raise awareness about the severe dangers of drug addiction among the youth, urging them to resist peer pressure and adopt healthier lifestyles to cope with stress.