Substance abuse affects society through adverse effects on health and wellness as well as societal cohesion. In developing countries especially, such substance abuse by low income breadwinners tear at the family unit and affect social cohesion by depleting financial, physical, and emotional strengths. Believing substance abuse to be an important human rights issue of our time, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha works to raise awareness of substance abuse. Over the years, our educational programs, community theater performances and pledge drives have seen millions of people commit to lead addiction-free lives.