Tramol’ as they call it gets them into another realm when they take it, knowledge about the effects of the drug, though reduces their crave for it is not enough to deter them completely from taking it.
Tramadol, the drug which has kept the FDA and health experts on their toes for over a period now considering the devastating effects it is having on Ghanaians is now a ‘headache’ for young men living at Old Fadama in Accra as they fight their way through to get over their addiction to the drug.
Despite having seen a number of his friends die from seizures and the likes after taking as many as four sachets of the drug, Kojo S.K, one of the ‘boys-boys’ who resides at Old Fadama will take the Tramadol drug on a day he has a ‘match’ with his girlfriend and occasionally when he has some cash to spare and wants to hang out with friends.
“As many as 3 to four hours non-stop”, that’s how much he can go on a ‘match day’ in bed with his girlfriend he explained and it’s all ‘thanks’ to the energy Tramadol provides.
“I don’t just take the drug, I take it to boost my sexual escapades, I’m able to go three to four hours non-stop when I take the drug, it gives me energy. I’m 25 years old, I take it occasionally when I’m going to meet my girlfriend and or hang out with friends for fun…….I’ve seen a lot of my friends die as a result of this drug, some take as many as four sachets. Many of them have seizures and fall into the Korle Lagoon.”
“I don’t often take tramadol, but when I do I feel good and I sleep very well after my rounds” he noted.
That’s just one story, from the ‘hood boys’ in the area. ‘Horror’ as he identifies himself, on his part takes tramadol as a hustler to work through the day without feeling tired.
“I feel the drug Tramol, it gives me energy and without it, I’m unable to fight back when I’m bullied in the course of my job”, the 23-year-old hustler told GH One’s Nana Aba Anamoah on ‘State of Affairs’.
“2 doses of the 250mg tabs will get me through a day, carting goods for people. I feel down when I don’t take it but I’m re-energised when I take it. I ended up on the floor one time after taking it. I’ve read about it and I know I have to stop taking it but when I stop for about 5 days, I feel sick and cold, I only become all sorts of happy again after I take it”, he continued.