By Albert Allotey
Accra, June 26, GNA – The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a non-profit non-governmental organization has joined the globe to commemorate the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with a call on government for effective policies to prevent emerging drug challenges.
This year’s Day is held under the global call to address the world drug problem through innovative response to persisting drug issues and emerging challenges.
It provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolving nature of drugs, the growing complexity of substance production and the urgent need for evidence-based interventions to protect public health, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable development.
A statement signed by Mr Issah Ali, the Executive Director of VALD and coped to the Ghana News Agency on Friday stated that drugs and their related harm continue to affect individuals, families, and communities across the globe, with young people remaining vulnerable to their usage and effects.
The statement said according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug use continued to rise with synthetic drug marketing expanding rapidly and creating public health and safety challenges.
It stated that in West Africa, the emergence of new psychoactive substances and harmful drugs mixtures has increased the concerns about health, social and economic consequences of substance use, particularly among young people.
“These developments highlight the need for strengthened prevention systems, improved treatment services, and coordinated responses that can address current and emerging threats,” it urged.
The statement said VALD believed that effective responses coupled with evidence-based policies and legislations must be prioritized while effective responses must go beyond treatment and focus on building resilient individuals, family and communities.
It added that prevention, treatment, recovery and social reintegration should be an interconnected element of a comprehensive public health response, stating that, “Investing in prevention remains one of the most cost-effective strategies for reducing drug related harm and advancing sustainable development.”
It said young people must be recognized as active partners in prevention and not only as recipients of interventions and that families, schools, community leaders, civil society and faith-based organizations, media and government institutions have critical roles in creating supportive environments that empower young people to make healthy choices and protect vulnerable populations.
The statement emphasized that there was the need for the strengthening of public awareness on health, social and economic consequences of drug use, and expand access to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery services, which forms part of human right issues.
The statement further called for the strengthening of collaboration among government institutions, civil society, academia, media, traditional authorities, community leaders and development partners to address the causes of substance use and reduce vulnerability through community-based prevention education and youth empowerment initiatives.
“As we respond to the world drug problem and its persisting and emerging challenges, VALD urges policymakers and implementing institutions to prioritize prevention, invest in recovery, strengthen evidence-based interventions and support policies that prevent drug related harms while promoting health, development, social well-being and human right.”
“Together we can build safer, healthier and more resilient communities where every individual can thrive free from harm from drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” it concluded.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade