Incorporate Drug Education into GES Curriculum- Director of LOAD Ghana tells Gov't.

The Founder and Executive Director of LOAD Ghana, (Life Out of Alcohol and Drugs, Ghana) Roger Abaa Atambire, has called for government to consider initiating policies that will allow a more comprehensive teaching and learning of alcohol and drug related issues in the country's educational system. He said the constant rising of drug usage and abuse in the society has reached a crescendo and need pragmatic measures to arrest the situation.
Mr. Atambire, who is also a recovering addict, was speaking during a radio interview on Uniiq FM's Midmorning Affairs Programme, Thursday, 9th August, 2018. He attributed the upsurge to ignorance and lack of proper education on the effects and dangers of alcohol and drugs.
In his attempt to state how such an idea could be implemented, Mr. Atambire, revealed that there are two major ways of fighting alcohol usage and drug abuse.
"We have demand reduction strategy, and supply reduction strategy. With the demand reduction strategy, you are talking about education. You are going to educate people to reduce their demand for the product. When people are educated and empowered and know this drug is harmful, this product is harmful, they will not demand for it. So that means you are going to reduce the demand for the product. So to reduce the patronage of the product, people must know the bad side of it. Its consequences, the effects of it. And when they know about that they will not buy. So it is a strategy that you are using..." "All is about giving them the right information..." "And letting people know the truth..." "They [people] knowing the truth of alcohol and drugs. So, that strategy is working."
The Executive Director of LOAD Ghana, argued that countries where the demand reduction strategy is in force has yielded good results than the supply reduction strategy. He further explained how the latter works:
"...with supply reduction strategy, you are going to use taxes, increase price of the product, and perhaps use border surveillance to be able to control the importation of the product, or even make the supply of it very difficult, or maybe a strict licence, or something positive put in place so that it will be difficult for you to supply the drug in the country."
The ace inspirational and motivational speaker, believes that Ghana, where alcohol consumption and drug abuse is fast becoming a norm, has the experienced personnel and trained persons who are capable and ready to ensure such a laudable and enviable idea is executed to its outmost best.
"...we have qualified people in the system. For example, we have Dr. K. Sagoe, who is a Clinical Psychologist. [Formally Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Cape Coast] We have people we can even work with, using recovering addicts like myself here to do the education."
Mr. Atambire, wants an all-inclusive policy were lessons are activity based. He further argued that the current system, where the effects of drugs are taught in the classroom are basically meant to prepare the students for exams. "...the motive behind it is just to teach the children to know about alcohol and drugs...who is even teaching that subject? How is the person trained? They are just teaching them as a subject. They want them to know it and write exams".
Roger Abaa Atambire, who lived with addiction for over 10 years, told buudigh.blogspot.com, that he is advocating for a change that will completely transform the thinking and attitude of people towards the usage of illicit drugs and alcohol consumption. "What I am advocating for is that a schedule is added to the activities of GES curriculum. You can even organize trips to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital for students to have first-hand information. And talk to inmates. And some of them will open up, I was this, I was that, I was in school, I was doing this, and I used drugs and this is where I've found myself." "...and when people go to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and go back, sometimes they're always scared to even go near drugs. Some have visited the place and have gone back and not able to sleep because they are using drugs.”
Reports from local health authorities indicates that at least 2.1 per cent of Ghana’s population, from 15 years and above, are heavy drinkers.
Meanwhile, target 3.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, goal 3 demands that all member countries by 2030 should be able to ”Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse.”
LOAD Ghana, (Life Out of Alcohol and Drugs, Ghana), is a not for profit organization based in the Upper East region of Ghana. Since its establishment in 2015, the NGO has done tremendously well in providing foundation towards recovery for many addicts through counselling, knowledge sharing, brief intervention and best rehabilitation practices. And is therefore, calling for support from governments, and corporate bodies to help in the fight against alcohol consumption and substance abuse.