The Research and Consultancy Centre (RCC) of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has trained enumerators and supervisors ahead of a baseline study on substance use among young people in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality.
The training, held on Monday, 18 May 2026, brought together more than 30 enumerators and six supervisors in preparation for a three-day field data collection exercise.
The study seeks to generate reliable data to support targeted prevention, referral, support and rehabilitation interventions for persons aged 15 to 35.
Welcoming participants on behalf of the RCC, Dr Siddique Abdul-Samad underscored the importance of the exercise and the critical role of the enumerators in ensuring the credibility of the study.
He said participants were expected to administer the survey instruments professionally, observe the required field protocols, and submit regular progress reports during the data collection period.
Dr Abdul urged the trainees to approach the assignment with diligence, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility, stressing that the quality of the data collected would be central to the usefulness of the final findings.
The Director of Research and Policy Planning at NACOC, Mr Sylvester Koomson, said the Commission attached considerable importance to the training, given the relevance of the study to national efforts aimed at preventing substance abuse and strengthening evidence-based interventions.
He expressed appreciation to the participants for making themselves available to support the exercise and encouraged them to remain committed throughout the fieldwork.
Mr Koomson also commended the UPSA Research and Consultancy Centre for the partnership, noting that the collaboration reflected a shared commitment to addressing substance abuse through research, public education and evidence-informed policymaking.
Facilitating the training, Dr Adam Salifu explained that the baseline study was designed to provide critical insights into the prevalence and patterns of substance use among young people within the municipality.
He said the training introduced participants to their roles and responsibilities as enumerators and supervisors, while equipping them with the practical skills required for effective data collection.
Dr Salifu further trained the participants on the use of digital data collection tools, including KoboToolbox, and guided them through the study questionnaire to promote consistency, accuracy and reliability during the field exercise.
The baseline study will cover five suburbs: Madina, Teiman, Oyarifa, West Adentan and Pantang. It will collect data on selected substances, including alcohol, tobacco, shisha, marijuana, tramadol, codeine, cocaine, heroin and inhalants.
Findings from the exercise are expected to inform programme design and strengthen interventions in substance abuse prevention, support, referral and rehabilitation among young people.
