Let’s preach against drug abuse
About a week ago, the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, on a working tour of the Northern Region had cause to urge religious leaders to preach against drug abuse, a phenomenon currently ravaging the country’s youth.
According to him, societal values and behaviours were under threat due to the abuse of drugs by the youth.
He, thus, urged religious leaders, who were noted to uphold high standards and thus influenced their assimilation, to change the narrative regarding drug abuse.
“Tamale, a city celebrated for it’s cultural vibrancy and industrious youth, cannot afford to let this menace erode our values or destroy our future.
“As religious leaders your influence is invaluable — preach against it,” he stressed.
According to the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB), the three northern regions of Ghana account for more than 50 per cent of the reported drug usage.
About 50,0000 people in Ghana abuse drugs, with more than half of them being students from junior/senior high schools and tertiary institutions (aged 12-35 years).
Drug abuse is a serious issue that affects individuals, families and communities.
This can lead to health problems, including addiction and damage to the organs of the body.
Besides, substance abuse contributes to mental issues such as depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, abuse of drugs can strain relationships, impact work, school performance and result in financial difficulties.
Drug abuse by the youth is an existential challenge in Ghana.
It is a threat to our very existence as a nation, and Ghana might have no future if the situation persists.
Recently, there have been videos making the rounds of some youth engaged in trading or the wiping of windscreens along our highways, sleeping as they tried to wipe the wind shields of some vehicles.
Others have been filmed in public spaces like markets, virtually sleeping on their feet, a strange phenomenon.
It has been attributed to the abuse of opioids (drugs used to treat pain) like tramadol, nicknamed ‘Red’.
It is a scary thing happening among us. That is why the Daily Graphic sides with the Interior Minister in his call to religious leaders to “preach against it!”
Indeed, that call must be a national rallying call for our youth to stay away from drugs and find real purpose and meaning in life.
Thus, it behoves political leaders, who most often have public platforms, to dedicate just a minute or two before any speech to preach against drug abuse.
Parents must also be key preachers in the sermon against drugs.
However, before any preaching against this threat, the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) must furnish us with a detailed nature of the challenge; we need the knowledge and information for incisive messages to get our youth off drugs.
Whilst at it, the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA’s) monitoring and supervision of drugs movement and use within our borders must not be compromised.
They must sit up to curb repetition of situations such as was reported by the BBC in its latest investigation of drug trafficking along the northern borders of the country.
The government must also champion the campaign against drug abuse among the youth.
As it strives to reset Ghana for a good future, there is the need to ensure that the youth become part of the agenda.
The youth plagued by drugs cannot enjoy the future we are all working hard to attain.
The Daily Graphic believes that raising awareness about the risk and consequences of drug abuse can help curb the menace.
Let’s preach against youth drug abuse in churches and in mosques.
Let’s preach against youth drug abuse in homes.
Let’s preach against youth drug abuse on public/civic platforms.
Yes, let’s all “preach against it!”
