The Upper West Regional Command of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has organized a capacity-building seminar for Guidance and Counselling practitioners across the region as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day.
The training, held on 23rd June 2026 at the In-Service Training Centre, brought together Guidance and Counselling Coordinators from various districts as well as counsellors from Senior High Schools across the Upper West Region.
The seminar was facilitated by two NACOC officers, PNDO Gloria Nangbeikuu and SNDO Dominic Naaikuur. Participants were taken through key topics including common routes of drug administration and their speed of action, understanding drug abuse and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), adolescent vulnerability to drug use, and effective ways of identifying and engaging students at risk. Other areas covered included documentation, referral systems, ethics in counselling, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and the use of screening tools.
Delivering the keynote address, the Upper West Regional Commander of NACOC, Bede Naapane, emphasized the importance of the training in combating the growing drug menace among young people. Speaking under this year’s theme, “World Drug Problems, Persisting Issues, New Challenges,” he noted that while traditional drug threats such as cannabis cultivation and trafficking persist, new dangers including synthetic drugs and the influence of social media are rapidly emerging.
He highlighted that substance abuse continues to have devastating effects on families, health, and productivity, stressing that these challenges are evident in communities across the region. He further warned that the age of first-time drug use is declining, with both urban and rural areas increasingly affected.
Mr. Naapane described guidance counsellors as frontline actors in the fight against drug abuse, noting that their role in early detection, counselling, and prevention is critical. He urged participants to integrate drug education into school programmes, identify and support at-risk students, and collaborate with parents, teachers, and community leaders to create drug-free environments.
“Prevention is more effective and far less costly than enforcement or treatment,” he stated, encouraging counsellors to equip students with accurate information, life skills, and strong values to resist drug use.
He also called for timely reporting of emerging drug trends to enable NACOC to respond effectively.
Addressing young people indirectly through the participants, he urged them to make informed choices, stating, “You are not the problem — you are the solution. Choose knowledge over ignorance, health over temporary highs, and a future of purpose and dignity.”
The seminar forms part of NACOC’s broader strategy to strengthen community-based prevention efforts and safeguard the future of young people in the region.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective schools and districts to help curb drug abuse and promote healthier lifestyles among students.
World Drug Day is observed annually on June 26 to raise awareness about the global drug problem and to strengthen action and cooperation towards achieving a drug-free society.
