Addressing a youth conclave here as part of 'Say No To Drugs' drive, Rawat said "we must win the battle against drug abuse for the sake of our country, society, our today and tomorrow. This battle cannot be fought by the police alone.
"It is a collective battle in which the youth have to play the most significant part.
"Drug peddlers should be sternly dealt with films should be made to spread awareness among people about drug abuse," he said.
State Home Minister Pritam Singh described Dehradun as an education hub which needs to be saved from drugs.
DGP B S Sidhu said that in the past 10 months of the anti-drugs drive, narcotic substance worth over Rs 1.5 crore was seized from Dehradun, whereas a total of 288 persons were put behind the bars for their involvement in peddling.