–BY Daniel Bampoe
In a decisive move to confront the growing threat of drug abuse among young people in the Suhum Municipality, Member of Parliament for the area, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, has officially launched a full-scale anti-opioid and substance abuse campaign.
The initiative, themed “Illicit Drug Use Among the Youth of Suhum Municipality: Our Collective Responsibility in Curbing the Menace,” marks one of the most comprehensive community-driven responses to the opioid crisis in recent times.
The campaign, titled “Life, Not Poison: Opioid Abuse Not a Painkiller but a Killer,” was officially unveiled on Tuesday, April 22, during a community conference in Suhum.
This launch follows months of groundwork laid during Frank Asiedu Bekoe’s thank-you tour, which involved key engagements with traditional authorities, Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as opinion shapers in the municipality.
Opioid and substance abuse have become increasingly prevalent in Suhum, reflecting a broader national trend of rising drug dependency among Ghana’s youth.
While national statistics remain limited, anecdotal evidence and reports from healthcare professionals point to an alarming increase in the misuse of prescription opioids and illicit substances in the area.
Speaking at the launch event, Asiedu Bekoe described the situation as a “silent killer,” stressing that the menace threatens not just individual lives but the future prosperity of the entire community.
“The youth are the lifeblood of our future. If we lose them to drugs, we lose everything. This campaign is about saving lives,” he stated passionately.
The MP’s initiative has been welcomed as a non-partisan, inclusive effort to tackle the drug crisis from multiple angles.
During his address, Bekoe announced the formation of a new Opioid and Substance Abuse Committee, which will coordinate sensitization activities, rehabilitation support, and prevention strategies across the municipality.
The campaign event drew representatives from a wide range of sectors—including traditional councils, religious institutions, health professionals, assembly members, NGOs, security services, and private entities.
Their collective message was clear: the fight against substance abuse must transcend political, religious, and ethnic divisions.
Health experts from the Suhum Health Directorate gave technical presentations, identifying peer pressure, socio-economic challenges, and lack of awareness as primary drivers of substance abuse.
They emphasized early intervention, community education, and rehabilitation as essential tools for reversing the trend.
“This collaborative effort has the potential to save many young lives,” one health official noted.
The campaign rollout is expected to include school outreach programs, community forums, radio and television discussions, and the distribution of educational materials in local languages.
