The University of Health and Allied Sciences Basic School in the Volta Region has launched a campaign aimed at curbing substance abuse among the youth.

The initiative would see pupils of the school embarking on an intensive education drive to preach against the use of substances and the adverse effects of their abuse.

There are reports of relatively high substance use among adolescents in Ghana, with marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine being the most widely abused.

This development calls for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing substance use, to safeguard the country’s future.

The Headmaster of the UHAS Basic School, Seth Korga said it became imperative for such an initiative taking into consideration the high level of exposure of children to drugs, in their immediate environs and the widespread substance abuse among the youth.

“We are getting to know that even children as young as in KG are taking substances that make them addictive. So we have decided that since our children are also part of the community, they are seeing those things and they are vulnerable to drug abuse. So we decided to do something about it.”

He said the initiative would see the children playing an integral part in the campaign, where a Destiny Club has been launched to spearhead activities against drug abuse.

He said the club would be replicated in all basic schools in the country and members would be enlightened on the effects of drug abuse and its associated factors so they can relay the information to their peers during their education drives.

He explained the mass media would be used to ensure the message reaches a wider audience with education on drug abuse and its consequences.

“So our strategy is that they will talk about it. They should dramatize it. They should debate it and by so doing maybe we will be able to save some of them”, he said.

Mr. Korga highlighted the collaboration between relevant agencies to ensure a successful campaign.

The Narcotics Control Commission identified parental influence as one of the causes of drug abuse and hence lauded the initiative to focus a campaign on children.

Melody Domoti of the Education Unit of the Board said that the initiative would complement her outfit's efforts to reduce the incidents of drug abuse among the youth.

“Most of them get the influence from their parents at home, some of them, their parents are using the drugs, and these are the things they send them to buy. Some of them even cultivate it, they have farms in their various communities, which makes them know of the drugs but don't know of their effects”, she lamented.