Mrs. Benedicta Adingelah, a certified counselor and the Executive Director of Adingelah Foundation, a non-government organisation, has advised the youth to avoid substance abuse and pursue their dreams.

Misusing hard drugs, prescription medications and excessive consumption of alcohol could affect their health, education, career and jeopardise their future, she explained.

Mrs. Adingelah gave the advice during the third edition of the Youth Expo programme held at the Wesley Methodist Church, Damang, in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

The event, organised by the Adingelah Foundation in collaboration with the Local Council of Churches in Damang, was attended by hundreds of youths from Damang and its environs.

It was on the theme: “A Journey from Reconciliation to Restoration, Then into Purposeful Living.”

She said although the foundation had other plans, they were led by God to organise “this project”, stressing that, “it’s worrying seeing our young ones dropping out of school and how substance abuse is destroying their lives.”

An excited Mrs. Adingelah explained that prior to the event, she visited ghettos to interact with some youth about the dangers associated with such negative practices, and some came for the programme.

The Executive Director said to help eliminate this lifestyle from society, she had already made the necessary arrangements with all the schools within the Damang Mines area to educate them on the same topic next academic year.

She added that the foundation through its dedicated volunteers would continue to offer the needed support and guidance to discourage the youth from engaging in substance abuse.

Mr. Charles Kwakye Osei, the Unit Head at the Addictive Disease Unit, Kole-Bu Teaching Hospital, schooled the participants on the stages of drug use, causes, peer pressure, addiction, management, and healthy ways to function without drugs.

He entreated the youth to develop their own approach to build friendship and distance themselves from their peers who used substance.

Mr Osei, who doubles as a Counselor, emphasized that parents of young people should guide their children to focus on their studies to help minimize substance-related thoughts.

A team of counselors were present to help those who needed support to recover from substance abuse and rebuild their lives.