Upsa Students Raise Awareness About Modern Substance Abuse

Drug Abuse

Posted by AI on 2025-09-11 10:38:12 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-11 13:01:11

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"Dangerous Trends" Among Youth in Ghana Highlighted in Campaign by Student Researchers.

A two-day symposium hosted by final-year Development Communication students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) kicked off yesterday, aiming to raise awareness of the dangers of modern substance abuse. The event, titled "Modern Substance Abuse: the Silent Epidemic among University Students," hopes to reach young people with lectures and workshops on the causes, risks, and consequences of abusing various substances, from illicit drugs to alcohol and prescription medications.

According to the keynote address delivered by the Deputy Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission in the Greater Accra Region, Hakeem Osofo Rees, the misuse of substances has become a severe problem among Ghanaian youth, largely as a result of mental health challenges, social pressures, and environmental factors. Unfortunately, these factors lead to devastating consequences for many young people and society as a whole.

Student project coordinator and Development Communication lecturer, Madam Sandra Yeboah Nyarko, praised the students for turning to their studies for answers to societal issues. According to Madam Yeboah, the initiative is a reflection of UPSAs commitment to empowering students to initiate change and highlight the critical role of communication in promoting public health and youth development in Ghana. The symposium included interactive sessions, testimonies, and educational displays to equip participants with the knowledge to make informed decisions and advocate against drug abuse within their communities.

The event is just the beginning of a larger campaign to educate the public and create interventions to address the socio-economic burden of substance abuse. Students and young people struggle with mental health issues, social pressures, and environmental factors that lead them to substance abuse. The campaign highlights the need for structured programs to support students and young people in addressing these issues and taking preventive measures to avoid substance abuse.

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