Role of the Media in Curbing Substance Abuse in Ghana

Abstract

Aside terrorism, trafficking and use of illicit drugs have become the most daunting contemporary social challenges Substance abuse due to its prevalence has become a global issue and governments of various countries including Ghana are making concerted efforts to curb the canker. Substance abuse in Ghana has exacerbated because day in day out, more people are abusing different types of substances. The media have become salient in society because they inform, educate and entertain. In view of this, the study seeks to explore the role of the media in curbing substance abuse in Ghana. Specifically, the study seeks to investigate the strategies mapped up by the media curb substance abuse in Ghana, the level of effectiveness of the strategies, challenges facing the media in their campaigns against substance abuse and the impact of the media campaigns against substance abuse. The study will adopt the qualitative approach and the research design will be exploratory. Purposive sampling will be used to select 5 media outlets and managers of each of the 5 media outlets will be interviewed. An interview guide will be prepared in accordance with the objectives.