Buea: Civil Society Coalition Against Drug Abuse

Drug consumption, commercialization and substance abuse has reached an alarming proportion in communities in the South West and North West Regions. Fuelled by the socio-political crisis rocking the two regions for close to a decade now, drug and substance misuse is fragilizing community dialogue and stability and pose a serious menace to peace efforts. It is against this backdrop that over 20 civil society organisations and community members took to the street in Buea last Friday June 26, to denounce the phenomenon. During the commemorative walk to mark World Drug Day, activists carried placards with diverse messages such as “Say No To Drugs, Yes to Life,” Prevention is Better than Addiction etc.” The march against drug abuse that stretched from Mile 17 to Molyko Stadium esplanade was part of the three-day workshop to flag-off the House of Trust for Peace; an innovative approach to building lasting peace in the communities. The House of Trust for Peace cohort thus joined other civil society organisations and community members to highlight the intersection of substance abuse, community vulnerability, and territorial instability. During the commemorative walk, regional officials of Social Affairs and Youth and Civic Education both hinged the responsibility on the family, stating that sensitization should start at the level of the families. They saluted the ini...