The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) partnered with MUSIGA to mitigate the canker of substance abuse predominantly among the youth in Ghana. The partnership, which takes the form of a music video, features some key industry players such as Kwame Eugene, Article Wan, Bogo Blay, Eno Barony, Amrado and Yaa Yaa. The video, which was released on Monday 20″ December, is staged in a mixed turban setting and depicts different scenes of substance misuse peculiar to communities in Ghana. Emphasis is placed on tobacco use, recreational use of tramadol and the corresponding social enablers.

The adverse effects of drug abuse are dire and include a diminished immune system, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues and ultimately death.

The music video is part of the FDA’s comprehensive strategy to sensitize the public on substance abuse. The official launch kickstarts an FDA led nationwide campaign in collaboration with the entertainment industry, media, other stakeholders and the public. This adds to the FDA’s vast interventions and regulatory actions aimed at extenuating drug misuse and tobacco use to ensure the responsible use of controlled medicines.

The music video is an innovative strategy by the FDA targeted predominantly at the youthful population in Ghana and intent on creating a more acceptable and assessable means of public sensitization to prevent abuse and diversion from licit to illicit use.

‘DAABI-SAY NO TO DRUG ABUSE’ CAMPAIGN

The “DAABI CAMPAIGN” in schools is part of the FDA’s comprehensive strategy to sensitize the public, particularly, the youth, on substance abuse. The official launch started with an FDA-led nationwide campaign in collaboration with the entertainment industry, media, other stakeholders, and the public with a music video on “SAY NO TO DRUGS- DAABI” as an innovative strategy targeted at the youthful population in Ghana.

The campaign is a nationwide call and aims to increase coverage of substance abuse awareness in secondary and tertiary level institutions. Also, the FDA seeks to advance the inclusivity of educational institutions in the Authority’s strategic plan for mitigating substance misuse in Ghana and further develop the youth as ambassadors in disseminating the dangers of drug abuse.

Furthermore, the FDA seeks to introduce a Drug Abuse Scheme to encourage student-led initiatives against substance abuse with long-term goal of a well-established nationwide FDA network of drug abuse youth ambassadors. This drug abuse peer-to-peer prevention program seeks to sustain the “Daabi” campaign which is to be replicated in other schools.