Drug abuse a societal pandemic, not personal issue – ID Cabasa

Veteran music producer, ID Cabasa, has warned that drug abuse is a pandemic affecting everyone, not just those who consume illicit substances.

Speaking at TVC’s TownSquare series, themed “War Against Drug Abuse: Taking control of today, protecting the future,” Cabasa emphasised that the effects of drug abuse extend far beyond users, making it a societal threat.

“If we say it’s just the users that are having issues, even you that you’re not using it, it is having an effect on you. We all created to this beast. Music has its own subtle way of creating mindset,” he said.

Cabasa pointed out that conversations around substance abuse often focus on surface-level reactions rather than underlying causes.

“When we have these conversations amongst my colleagues, we notice that we always treat the symptoms, we don’t look at the root cause. We can say the family is why these youths sing about what they’re expecting, but we have to also look at it. Before we try to blame the father or mother, we should remember that they also raised other children who are not using these substances,” he stated.

He stressed the need to re-examine societal values, arguing that the glorification of material wealth fuels both drug trafficking and its promotion in popular culture.

“In the society that people see your greatness from what you have, material possessions, which is what encourages a lot of people who are doing the business not to get high but to make money,” he said

The music producer also alleged that some drug financiers subtly infiltrate the music industry under the guise of sponsorship, influencing artists to promote their activities.

“When some of them want to sing, they call the names of the example of rich people that they see. And these barons too, they are very smart in their agenda. They don’t come to the industry with the idea that they want to sell drugs. All they need to do is finance you. All they need is for the singers to mention their names and what they do,” he said.

He challenged stakeholders who oppose drug glorification in music to invest in positive alternatives, rather than just criticising the issue.

“Those that are not in support of drugs, are we putting our money where our mouth is? Are we funding campaigns? or the type of music that will not carry all of those things. Are we just going to stop at the point of criticisms,” he asked.

Cabasa emphasised that tackling the pandemic requires value reorientation, responsible content creation, and deliberate support for initiatives aimed at protecting young people and safeguarding the future.

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