Final-year Development Communication students at UPSA launched an awareness campaign on modern substance abuse with a two-day symposium held from May 8 to 9, 2025, under the theme “Modern Substance Abuse: the Silent Epidemic among University Students.”
Mr. Hakeem Osofo Rees, Deputy Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission, delivered the keynote, warning of the growing misuse of illicit drugs, synthetic substances, alcohol, and prescription medications among Ghanaian youth—driven by mental health challenges, social pressures, and environmental factors.
He highlighted the devastating effects, including loss of ambition, imprisonment, stigma, and even death. The symposium addressed the socio-economic burden of substance abuse and the alarming rise in synthetic drug and prescription pill misuse among students.
Event Coordinator, Madam Sandra Yeboah Nyarko, praised the initiative as a practical application of development communication, promoting awareness, prevention, and help-seeking behavior. The campaign featured interactive sessions, testimonies, and educational displays aimed at empowering students and promoting public health.
Source:
https://upsa.edu.gh/upsa-final-year-devcom-students-lead-campaign-against-modern-substance-abuse/
Mr. Hakeem Osofo Rees, Deputy Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission, delivered the keynote, warning of the growing misuse of illicit drugs, synthetic substances, alcohol, and prescription medications among Ghanaian youth—driven by mental health challenges, social pressures, and environmental factors.
He highlighted the devastating effects, including loss of ambition, imprisonment, stigma, and even death. The symposium addressed the socio-economic burden of substance abuse and the alarming rise in synthetic drug and prescription pill misuse among students.
Event Coordinator, Madam Sandra Yeboah Nyarko, praised the initiative as a practical application of development communication, promoting awareness, prevention, and help-seeking behavior. The campaign featured interactive sessions, testimonies, and educational displays aimed at empowering students and promoting public health.
Source:
https://upsa.edu.gh/upsa-final-year-devcom-students-lead-campaign-against-modern-substance-abuse/