A disturbing revelation has emerged from the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, Esq., who has stated that Ghana’s tertiary institutions record high cases of opioid abuse.
This trend, confirmed by joint investigations conducted by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Ghana Police Service, paints a grim picture of the escalating drug crisis among Ghanaian youth.
Speaking about the prevalence of opioid abuse amongst Ghanaian youth in recent times, he told Kwadwo Sefah-Danquah on the Happy Morning Show, that statistics from NACOC and the Ghana Police Service indicate that tertiary institutions record high cases of opioid abuse.
Data compiled from various sources, including NACOC and police reports, indicate that drug related incidents in tertiary institutions have risen in the last 2 years.
The minister’s revelations underscore the severity of the opioid problem, which extends beyond tertiary institutions.
A separate study conducted in the Northern Region revealed that a staggering 68 percent of students sampled across 10 schools had experimented with drugs within the past two years, highlighting the early onset of drug experimentation among young people.
Recent data indicates a significant rise in opioid-related incidents among Ghanaian youth, with a particular focus on tramadol and “red”.
Reports from NACOC show a consistent increase in tramadol seizures, with a substantial portion of the drug being diverted to the youth market.
Studies indicate that a substantial number of Ghanaian youth between the ages of 15-35 have experimented with tramadol.
The use of “red,” a dangerous combination of various substances, is also on the rise, especially in urban areas and tertiary institutions. Police reports indicate an increase in arrests related to “red” usage among young adults in the past year.
In response to this escalating crisis, the Youth Ministry of Ghana has launched the “Red Means Stop” campaign, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating the use of “red” and other illicit substances among young people.
The campaign focuses on providing comprehensive information about the dangers of “red” and other drugs through school programs, community outreach, and media campaigns.
The campaign also seeks to establish support systems and rehabilitation programs for young people struggling with drug addiction, while mobilizing community leaders, parents, and youth organizations to address the root causes of drug abuse.
The ministry is also working closely with NACOC and the Ghana Police Service to disrupt drug trafficking networks and enforce drug laws.
“We cannot stand idly by while our youth are being destroyed by these dangerous substances,” Opare Addo emphasized. “The ‘Red Means Stop’ campaign is a call to action for all Ghanaians to join hands in protecting our young people and creating a drug-free future.”
