Ghana To Observe International Day Against Drug Abuse

Accra (GAR), June 25, - This year's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking will be celebrated tomorrow. The theme for the day is ''To Mobilise the community towards the prevention of drug abuse''. In a press release issued in Accra today, the Narcotics Control Board said the day is aimed at getting all involved in the fight against drug abuse. The day has been set aside to focus global attention on the harmful effects of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin on the user, the community and society. The statement said the launching ceremony will be performed by Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior. In his message Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, called for concerted action to reduce the exposure of vulnerable groups, especially young people, to drug abuse. ''It is alarming that many individuals are beginning to experiment with drugs at even-younger ages. ''New drugs are growing in popularity, because young people in many societies imagine them safer than traditional drugs like heroin and cocaine. ''My appeal this year is for a united action everywhere - at the national and the local level and down to the individual family - to attack this threat to human life and basic human security''. Mr Annan expressed regret that drug abuse has spread to every corner of the world and called on communities to take immediate action to stem the problem.