The Eastern Regional Peace Council has raised an alarm over the rising abuse of drugs and alcohol among the youth, describing it not only as a health crisis, but also as a serious security threat that is emboldening illegal miners against security operatives.

Speaking to Starr FM at the sidelines of International Peace Day Celebration in Koforidua, Chairman of the Eastern Regional Peace Council, Dr Mark Boadu stated that, “Substance abuse sometimes makes people feel like they are above the universe and they feel like they are not operating within the law.

"And they can do whatever they want to do, and it’s not been good. Like you said, particularly in our mining areas, sometimes they feel like they can even face the military or face the police, take their guns.”

“One of the young men we talked to was like, you don’t know me. For me, the last time, even the soldiers, I was able to remove one tooth of a soldier. Look, that’s not an achievement. It’s sad. And we need to, the next time, it might not be removing the teeth of a soldier.” He recalled.

According to him, the rising substance abuse is not only a health crisis, but existential security threat which requires concerted effort to deal with it.

“It requires multi-sectorial approaches. Because the drug is circulating; drugs that are not supposed to be dispensed at the pharmacies or the drug stores are being given out. So, in fact, though it’s a multi-stakeholder approach, we need all stakeholders on board.

"The government, law enforcement agencies, probably we may have to be looking at laws on substances that we make available easily for consumption.” He stated.

Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, urged stakeholders to speak out against violence, hate speech, discrimination, and drug abuse. She called for strong community campaigns starting from homes, schools, workplaces, and churches.

The Nkosuohene of Kwahu Nkwatia and Peace Council Ambassador, Nana Owiredu Wadie I, also appealed to young people to choose life over addiction, describing drug abuse as a silent epidemic claiming lives.

This year’s Peace Day celebration was marked under the theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World: Addressing Youth Substance Abuse as a Pathway to Violence Prevention.”

Stakeholders say collective action is needed to safeguard the nation’s peace and security.