Opioid Abuse Threatening Ghana’s Youth, Says Psychiatrist

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Key points

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• Prof. Asare warns that opioid abuse is destroying the youth and costing the country.
• The “Red Means Stop” campaign aims to raise awareness and curb opioid misuse.
• Efforts are being made to prevent opioid smuggling and reduce substance abuse.

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Professor J.B. Asare, a former Chief Psychiatrist, has raised concerns about the alarming rise in opioid abuse among the youth, warning that the situation could lead to countless wasted lives in the coming years.

Speaking at the seventh annual capacity-building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Abuja, Asare stressed the importance of cracking down on the influx of opioids into the country to protect the nation’s youth from the dangerous effects of addiction.

Rising opioid abuse among youth

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, Prof. Asare noted that in the past, young people feared the physical effects of opioids, but now, the drugs have resurfaced among the youth.

“Opioids are very dangerous; they destroy more lives than people realize,” he said. He warned that once the harm is done, it is not easy to correct.

He praised the government’s efforts to tackle drug abuse, urging that the campaign should not be a one-off event. Instead, it must be a sustained effort to combat opioid misuse, especially in communities where abuse is most rampant.

Calls for a multi-sector approach to tackling drug abuse

Prof. Asare believes the government’s initiatives are heading in the right direction but stressed that more needs to be done. “What the government is doing is in the right direction, but they need to intensify their efforts,” he said.

He suggested that religious bodies, schools, civil society organizations, and businesses could all play a role in sensitizing the youth about the dangers of drug abuse.

Asare emphasized that churches, for instance, could preach against drugs, helping to inform young people about the life-threatening consequences of opioid use.

He also mentioned that once the youth become dependent on opioids, the cost of rehabilitation is high. “It takes a long time to help them come back to normalcy. If we prevent them from using it, that’s far better,” he added.

Government campaign and national efforts

In response to the growing problem, the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has launched the “Ghana Against Drugs – Red Means Stop” campaign.

This initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, engage policymakers in strengthening regulations, and provide young people with the knowledge and support to make informed choices. The campaign specifically addresses the rising misuse of opioids, especially the drug known as “Red.”

The campaign has gained traction on social media, where viral videos show the disturbing effects of “Red” use, including staggering, slurring speech, and incoherent behavior. These videos have sparked public outrage and calls for urgent action.

Opioid seizure and destruction efforts

In addition to the awareness campaign, the Ministry of Health and the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA) are taking practical measures to curb the availability of opioids.

Recently, a large consignment of opioids, intercepted at the Tema Port, was destroyed. A total of 230 cartons, including various brands such as tafradol and timaking tapentadol, were incinerated at a private facility in the Greater Accra Region.

Prof. Asare also offered advice to the youth, encouraging them to focus on acquiring skills through proper channels instead of seeking quick fixes through drugs. “Drugs cannot solve your problems.

They will only destroy you,” he said, urging young people to seek guidance from trusted sources and avoid falling into the trap of substance abuse.