Bono East Regional NACOC Empowers School Counsellors in Renewed Battle Against Drug Abuse Among Students

In a proactive move to combat rising substance abuse among young people, the Bono East Regional Command of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has trained guidance and counselling coordinators from Senior High Schools across the region.

The capacity-building seminar, held as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, equipped participants with modern strategies focused on early identification, counselling, and rehabilitation of students rather than punishment.

Addressing the counsellors, SNCO Portia Abuwie Demuyakor, Bono East Regional Commander of NACOC, underscored the critical role schools play in shaping the lives of adolescents and positioning counsellors as frontline defenders against illicit drug use.

“Schools are where children spend most of their time, making counsellors key allies in this fight. This seminar is designed to give them the practical knowledge and skills needed to identify, support, and rehabilitate learners struggling with substance abuse.”

SNCO Demuyakor criticised the common practice in many schools of responding to drug-related incidents with suspension, expulsion, or public humiliation, describing such measures as counterproductive.

“Punitive actions like dismissal only push students further into the problem by exposing them to negative influences outside the school environment. What these learners truly need is guidance, counselling, and structured support to overcome addiction and change their behaviour.”

The training focused on recognising early warning signs of drug abuse and implementing effective intervention techniques that prioritise rehabilitation and long-term behavioural change.

Rev. Father Kingsley Dwamena Asante, the Bono East Regional Education Director, isued a strong call to parents, warning that some adults unknowingly contribute to the problem by sending children to buy cigarettes, alcohol, and other intoxicating substances.

“Parents must wake up to their responsibilities.The home is the first school of life. Children imitate what they see. When drug use is normalised at home, it becomes much harder to prevent it in school.”

He urged parents and guardians to stop using children as errand runners for harmful substances and to actively monitor their children’s associations and activities.

The Bono East Regional Education Director noted that the seminar marks the beginning of a broader engagement, with trained counsellors expected to cascade the knowledge to teachers and parents, fostering a united front involving families, schools, and communities.

Several counsellors who attended the seminar expressed appreciation for the practical approach and pledged to implement what they had learned.

A guidance coordinator from one of the region’s prominent Senior High Schools, said the training had completely changed her perspective. 

He described the workshop as “an eye-opener.” stating that “We now have better tools to identify warning signs and engage parents effectively. This collaborative approach is what we’ve been missing.”

The initiative reflects NACOC’s commitment to shifting from enforcement-only approaches to more holistic, preventive, and rehabilitative strategies in the fight against illicit drugs