Alhaji Idris Abdalah, the Chief Imam for the Ahlussunna wal Jama’a sect in the Techiman Metropolis, has urged Muslim youth to abstain from substance abuse, hard and illicit drugs that may lure them to evil activities.

Besides, he said substance abuse was detrimental to their health and general wellbeing and could ruin their future.

The Chief Imam gave the advice when he addressed hundreds of Muslims of the Ahlussunna wal Jama’a faith to mark the Eid al-Adha Prayers at Techiman, the Bono East Regional capital.

Alhaji Abdalah regretted that drugs and substance abuse was becoming alarming among young people, calling for immediate measures to bring the situation under control.

He particularly mentioned the abuse of tramadol, popularly known as “red” and Indian hemp, which he added was hazardous to the health of the abusers.

Alhaji Abdalah also called for strengthened national unity and social cohesion to facilitate economic growth and progressive development.

He urged families to closely monitor the movements of their children, saying “Allah in his wisdom gave us these children and we must mould them in a more responsible way for them to grow to become useful adults in society”.

Mr Kwaku Adjei Mensah, the Techiman Metropolitan Chief Executive, who joined the Islamic prayers, also urged the youth to abstain from alcoholism, worrying that drug abuse and alcoholism was destroying many of the young people in the area.