Features
Drug Abuse ….the new normal
Drug abuse must be curbed
Ghana, known for its vibrant and lively youth, now faces crisis as drug abuse takes the centre stage.
In recent years, drug abuse has seeped into the very fabric of society, with the younger generation gripped by its pervasive influence. Parents, educators, and policymakers alike are sounding the alarm as the new normal threatens the future of the Ghanaian youth.
In this in-depth article, we shall delve into the root causes of this epidemic, explore the various substances fuelling the trend, and examine the dire consequences it has on the nation’s most valuable asset – “The Youth”.
Drug abuse is commonly described as the excessive and detrimental utilsation of various substances, which encompass both illegal drugs and the inappropriate usage of prescription medications. It entails the repetitive and compulsive intake of these substances beyond their intended purposes, resulting in adverse effects on the person’s physical and mental health, interpersonal connections and general welfare.
The rise in drug abuse has caught the attention of many. Something that once served as a gathering for bonding and joyous experience now serve as platforms for risky drug trials. This once-hidden issue has emerged from obscurity, posing a profound challenge to the core values of the Ghanaian society.
Factors influencing the epidemic
Various factors have contributed to the rise of drug abuse among the Ghanaian youth, casting a cloud of uncertainty over the nation’s future.
One of the many factors is the socio-economic differences in society. The widening gap between the rich and poor has left many disillusioned and desperate, driving them towards drugs as a coping mechanism for their struggles.
Also, the rapid urbanisation of Ghana has led to a sense of disconnection from traditional values, pushing the youth towards drugs as a means of belonginess and acceptance.
Another factor that has a high influence on the epidemic is the influence of the media. The glorification of drug culture in popular music, movies, and social media has permeated the psyche of impressionable minds, normalising dangerous behaviour.
The lack of mental health support is also a factor as it has forced some individuals to turn to drugs as self-medication, exacerbating the issue. The glamour of substances as an escape from life’s hardships has captivated the younger generation, leading to a notable rise in usage.
Substances in Vogue
Variety of substances has gained popularity among Ghana’s young generation, each carrying its own appeal and dangers. Some of these drugs such as marijuana which is commonly referred to as “wee” or “ganja,” has medicinal benefits and easily availability thus making it the preferred drug for many.
The abuse of tramadol, a painkiller has surged due to its numbing effects, leading to addiction and severe health problems.
Codeine Cough Syrup which is often mixed with soda or energy drinks and known as “lean” or “purple drank”, has become a hazardous trend among the youth, resulting in health risks and addiction.
Shisha also known as “hookah” has gained popularity among the Ghanaian youth as a social and recreational activity. Flavoured tobacco, often in various appealing flavours, is smoked using a water pipe. Despite the perception of being less harmful than cigarettes, shisha smoking still poses health risks, including nicotine addiction and exposure to harmful chemicals released during the smoking process.
Consequences of the New Normal
As the drug abuse epidemic becomes the new norm among the Ghanaian youth, the effects reverberate far and wide, casting a dark shadow over individuals and the nation as a whole.
The long-term abuse of drugs takes a devastating toll on physical and mental health.
Drug Users and abusers face increased risks of chronic diseases, respiratory issues, and mental disorders. The burden on the healthcare system escalates as treatment and rehabilitation demand more resources, hindering the nation’s ability to provide quality healthcare to all.
Drug abuse again, significantly disrupts cognitive abilities, affecting academic performance among the youth. Diminished focus, memory lapses, and impaired decision-making hinder their potential to excel in education. Consequently, the future workforce faces diminished productivity and struggles to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.
The pursuit of money to sustain drug habits propels some youth towards criminal activities. Engaging in theft, robbery, or drug-related offenses becomes a desperate means to fuel their addiction. The vicious cycle of crime and violence further destabiliszes communities, undermining the safety and well-being of all citizens.
With a growing population of unproductive and unhealthy individuals, Ghana is likely to face economic challenges. Drug abuse depletes the workforce’s potential, limiting economic growth and prosperity. Increased dependence on social welfare systems strains government resources, diverting funds that could have been invested in vital developmental projects.
Addressing the Crises
To combat the pressing issue of substance addiction, a comprehensive and multifaceted approach is necessary. Drawing upon the insights of experts, healthcare professionals, and support groups, the following strategies emerge as key elements in addressing the crisis.
Medications such as Methadone, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Lofexidine play a vital role in moderating withdrawal symptoms during opioid addiction treatment. However, it is crucial to conduct thorough investigations and involve specialists to tailor treatment plans to individual needs, as certain conditions may require special attention.
Also, Psychotherapy including evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), are essential components of addiction treatment. These therapies help individuals understand and manage triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and promote behavioural change.
Another element in managing the crisis is Detoxification which involves managing withdrawal symptoms while aiming for abstinence. This process is guided by the principle of cross-tolerance, wherein one addictive substance is replaced with another and gradually withdrawn. Regular follow-up and monitoring of individuals with substance use disorders are crucial to track treatment progress, identify necessary adjustments, and provide ongoing support.
Leveraging local resources and support groups is integral to the recovery journey. In Ghana, organisations like the Hopeful Way Foundation and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health provide vital support to individuals and families affected by addiction. The Mental Health Authority also plays a crucial role in providing resources and guidance. Support groups also provide a sense of community, understanding, and encouragement, facilitating the recovery process for those grappling with addiction.
Conclusion
The consequences of the drug abuse epidemic in Ghana are evident and demand immediate attention. As a nation, we must confront this issue with unwavering resolve and solidarity. Intensively educating the youth about the risks of drug abuse, ensuring easily accessible rehabilitation services, strengthening law enforcement, and prioritising mental health support are crucial measures to combat this pressing crisis. Additionally, with the recent passing of the law legalising cannabis for medicinal use, there is the need to monitor its potential impact on drug use trends.
Addressing the growing acceptance of drug abuse will guide Ghana towards a brighter and healthier future for its youth and the entire nation. By joining forces, we can rekindle hope, resilience, and prosperity for generations to come.
By Josephine Nyorkor Ntreh
Level 300 student, Ghana
Institute of Journalism (GIJ)
THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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