Drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.
Sometimes though some of these drugs or substances are legal there is a need for prescribe prescription, to prevent the side effects and damages associated with its abuse and effect to the body system.
The team from National Narcotics Control Commission in a person of Ernestina Adjei Mensah Regional Commander, Greater Accra Region NACOC and David Adjetey Adjei Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, NACOC, said this on Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor FM 92.3 hosted by Nana Dobgey in Accra.
However there are over 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 18 years to 35 years. Surprisingly in Ghana in our rehabilitation centres we can account for prominent people who are part of these drug victims.
On the platform Ernestina Adjei Mensah said the commission is doing a lot in putting measures to control and other forms of structural measures to protect the public through public education on the dangers associated with drugs.
On the other hand David Adjetey Adjei, reiterated that, the most common drugs been use or abused in Ghana is marijuana which can be cultivated in all the 16 regions of Ghana and though it can be used as medicinal substance, people generally abused it as a stimulant for energy and other pleasurable desire.
He is of the view that, though some sections of the public can be on clinical trials involving psychedelics and medical use of cannabis; drug use in humanitarian settings; innovations in drug treatment and other services; and drugs and conflict. Its abuse is on the increase among the youth in the country.
According to The World Drug Report 2023; highlights how social and economic inequalities drive and are driven by drug challenges; the environmental devastation and human rights abuses caused by illicit drug economies; and the rising dominance of synthetic drugs.
The two representatives from NACOC, confirmed that though there are legal drugs for medicinal use such as Tramadol which has a high potent of milligrams ranging from 50 to 200 is been abused among the youths as a result of its high potent to provide energy and can keep you awake for long is on the increase.
Going forward they believe there is a need for concerted efforts from the commission and the public to support in the public education to discourage the dangers associated with drug abuse.
In another development reports show that there are cheap, easy, and fast production of synthetic drugs has radically transformed many illicit drug markets.
Criminals producing methamphetamine the world’s dominant illegally manufactured synthetic drug – are attempting to evade law enforcement and regulatory responses through new synthesis routes, bases of operation, and non-controlled precursors.
The team is of the view that large inequalities in access and availability of controlled drugs for medical use persist, particularly for pain management.
The disparity is particularly prevalent between the global North and South and across urban and rural areas, making some people feel the negative impact of drugs more than others. According to reports; some 86 per cent of the world’s populations live in countries with too little access to pharmaceutical prescription and self medication from uninformed authorities is worrying.
AYM Kukah. E: mail:kukahalexander7@gmail.com
