The Upper West Regional Command of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has equipped guidance and counselling practitioners in Senior High Schools across the region with practical skills to identify and intervene in cases of student substance abuse before they escalate into addiction and other serious consequences.
The training, organized at the In-Service Training Centre in Wa as part of activities marking World Drug Day 2026, brought together Senior High School Guidance and Counselling Practitioners and District Guidance and Counselling Coordinators from across the region.
Participants were trained to identify, screen, counsel, manage, and refer students affected by substance use and substance use disorders, strengthening schools’ capacity to respond to the growing challenge of drug abuse among young people.
Addressing the seminar, Upper West Regional Commander of NACOC, SNCO Bede Naapane, described school counsellors as a critical first line of defence in the fight against substance abuse.
He urged participants to take an active role in detecting at-risk students early and establishing effective intervention and referral systems within their schools.
The day-long programme covered key areas including drug classifications, routes of administration, substance use disorders, adolescent vulnerability to drug use, counselling ethics, documentation and referrals, healthy lifestyle promotion, and the administration of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10).
Beyond theory, the training emphasized practical application. Participants engaged in case studies, group discussions, role-playing sessions, and hands-on exercises designed to mirror real-life counselling situations in schools.
A key component of the training was the OARS communication framework—Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening, and Summarizing—which was demonstrated through live role plays to help counsellors effectively engage students who may be struggling with substance use.
Participants also practised identifying behavioural, psychological, academic, and social indicators of drug use, administering screening tools, documenting case records, and developing referral pathways for students requiring specialized support.
The seminar concluded with a reflection session during which participants discussed lessons learned and strategies for applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their respective schools and districts.
The initiative forms part of NACOC’s broader efforts to strengthen prevention, education, and early intervention programmes in schools while promoting safer and drug-free learning environments across the Upper West Region.
Source: Kumasimail.com/Justin Abesig
