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The cultivation of Marijuana has been a major challenge in the fight against drug use among the youth in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Mr Kofi Boateng, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Deputy Commander of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) speaking an interview with the Ghana News Agency said it was very pathetic that some people were still depending on the cultivation of marijuana as their source of livelihood and did not care about its negative effects on the youth and the society in general.

He was speaking on the theme “Listen First-Listening to Children and Youth is the First Step to Help Them Grow Healthy and Safe” for the 2018 United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, which is observed June 26 every year.

Mr Boateng encouraged wee growers to get into other alternative types of farming ventures for their livelihood and join in the fight against drug use since everybody might be at risk if nothing was done about the situation.

Mr Boateng appealed to parents and guardians to get closer to their children and wards and show more concern and interest in their affairs to propel them to become responsible adults in future.

“It is better for parents to know the psychological disposition and socio-economic challenges of their children before being polluted with negative advice by their socially deviant friends who could introduce them to indulge in unacceptable behaviours and anti-social activities in the society” he stressed.

Mr Boateng said NACOB was collaborating with the Pharmaceutical Council, Food and Drugs Authority and other concerned institutions in the fight against the menace and appealed to the media to also join the campaign to educate the public about the effects and dangers on drug abuse.

“The youth in particular needed to be targeted to rid the society off drug addicts and alcoholism to bring the menace of drug abuse under control,” he emphasised.