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MINDS Cameroon, in partnership with organizations including Mike Yanou Foundation, MINPROF, MINAS, MINJEC, TeenAlive, and NADEV, commemorated the 2026 International Day to Combat Drug Use and Illicit Trafficking in a public awareness campaign featuring a community walk, on-the-ground sensitization, and advocacy messaging—to reduce stigma, intervention, and reinforce that substance use disorders are treatable health conditions rather than moral failings.
The event reached approximately 50 participants through high-traffic routes direct community engagement, strengthening inter-organizational collaboration and public visibility, though limited media coverage constrained broader impact. Recommendations include expanding, faith groups, and local councils, pursuing media amplification, and establishing a shared advocacy calendar. The campaign advanced Minds Cameroon's mission of substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion through coordinated community action.
On 7th June 2026, MINDS Cameroon partnered with the Backstreet Family to deliver a health talk on substance abuse to approximately 150 young people at the first edition of the Football Jamboree held at Buea Town Stadium, under the theme "Eradicate Drugs from Our Society and Make Us Better." The structured health talk was delivered between football matches, covering the effects of alcohol and drug use on physical performance, academic achievement, mental health, and long-term life opportunities, with facilitators using relatable football analogies comparing discipline on the pitch to discipline in personal health choices to make messaging feel relevant and engaging to young players and spectators alike.
Educational content was framed positively, encouraging participants to see themselves as ambassadors for drug-free living within their schools, teams, and neighborhoods, while also promoting help-seeking behavior among those facing personal or family-related substance use concerns. The session was well received by participants and event organizers, successfully integrating health education into a recreational setting without disrupting the sporting program, and contributing to increased community-wide awareness of the risks of substance use among youth. Key recommendations arising from the activity include integrating dedicated screening and counselling booths at future sports events for one-on-one follow-up, coordinating more closely with event organizers to secure longer uninterrupted speaking windows, and distributing take-home informational materials to extend key health messages beyond the day of the event.
On 6th May 2026, MINDS Cameroon facilitated an interactive health talk on substance abuse and mental health for approximately 35 officers of the Judicial Police in Buea, organized in response to an invitation from the South West Regional Delegate for National Security following officers' expressed uncertainty about appropriately responding to individuals affected by drugs and alcohol. The session covered commonly abused substances and their effects, underlying causes of addiction, behavioral warning signs, urine drug testing, mental health consequences of prolonged substance use, and available treatment and referral pathways, using practical case examples drawn from real gendarmerie duty scenarios including roadside encounters, community patrols, and custody situations.
Officers engaged actively throughout, sharing first-hand experiences and raising questions about emerging drug trends and how to balance enforcement obligations with rehabilitation-oriented responses. By the session's close, participants demonstrated improved understanding of addiction as a treatable health condition, expressed genuine commitment to working alongside mental health professionals, and opened concrete opportunities for formalizing a referral arrangement between the Gendarmerie and MINDS Cameroon. Key recommendations from the session include developing a multi-session, role-specific training curriculum for security agencies, establishing a formal referral pathway linking the Gendarmerie to rehabilitation and counseling services, and scheduling quarterly or biannual refresher sessions to sustain institutional knowledge and keep pace with emerging substance trends.