The Chambas Team of Red Alert, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has officially launched the Drug Abuse Prevention Clubs in Senior High Schools in the Ahafo Region.

The initiative was launched on Monday, March 2, at Goaso Ahafoman Senior High and Technical School and on Tuesday, March 3, at Mim Senior High School.

This launch marks the beginning of a nationwide campaign designed to empower students to make informed life choices and resist the pressures of drug use.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNODC, substance use disorders in adulthood almost always take root during early adolescence.

To address this, the new school clubs will serve as student-led platforms focused on education and mentorship, leadership training, and structured programming.

Kamal-Deen Abdulai Ibn Chambas, Convener for Red Alert, emphasised that the project aims to build a "resilient, disciplined, and purpose-driven" generation.

"Through these clubs, we seek to create champions who will lead the fight against drug abuse not just in their schools, but within their communities and the nation at large," Mr. Chambas stated.

The Ahafo Regional Commander of NACOC, Senior Narcotics Control Officer (SNCO) Kofi Boateng, highlighted the specific substances currently threatening teenagers, including alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and the rising popularity of e-cigarettes.

Mr. Boateng raised an alarm regarding a shift in demographics. While drug use was historically higher among males, recent WHO data suggests the gender gap is closing rapidly.

By age 15, girls in several regions now equal or surpass boys in smoking and alcohol consumption. Individuals who try illegal drugs before age 15 are 6.5 times more likely to develop a chronic substance use disorder later in life.

In 2021 alone, an estimated 10.1 million adolescents (ages 10–19) suffered from Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

Peter Amole, the Ahafo Regional Team Leader for the Chambas Team, reinforced the urgency of the campaign and called on local stakeholders for increased funding and logistical support.

He also extended gratitude to Alhaji Kofi Kontoh, a Mim-based advocate and counsellor, for his ongoing support of the team’s activities in the region.

The impact of the initiative is already being felt by the students. Alfred Nyame Aseda, a member of the newly formed club at Mim SHS, expressed the collective commitment of the student body.

"We are committed to remaining campaigners and educating our peers on the real dangers of drug and substance abuse."