Health and security professionals have called for increased investment in rehabilitation services and stronger parental support as substance abuse increasingly affects school-age children.
Major Kevin Bonsu, a Clinical Psychologist at 1 Garrison representing the Eastern Naval Command, said the country’s existing public rehabilitation facilities were insufficient to meet the growing need for treatment of substance use disorders.
He identified peer pressure, social media influence and inadequate parental supervision among the factors that could encourage students to experiment with illicit substances.
Major Bonsu made the call during activities to mark World Heart Day, where stakeholders from government institutions, security agencies and civil society organisations were promoting awareness on substance abuse prevention.
He said substance use disorder was a recognised medical condition that affected brain function and therefore required professional clinical intervention rather than relying exclusively on non-medical approaches.
He noted that public rehabilitation facilities at Pantang, Ankaful and the Accra Psychiatric Hospital were inadequate to serve the rehabilitation needs of the population.
Major Bonsu therefore urged the government to establish additional rehabilitation centres across the country.
He also appealed to parents and caregivers to provide sustained support to people undergoing recovery, stressing that such support was important in preventing relapse.
Miss Akosua Bempomaa, Head of Corporate Communications at Daylight Events, said the growing presence of substance abuse in primary and secondary schools required communities to intensify prevention efforts.
She said the problem was no longer confined to urban ghettos but had reached school environments, making grassroots education critical to protecting young people.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), she said the campaign was being organised in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education, Narcotics Control Board and Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.
Miss Bempomaa said while security agencies and the Food and Drugs Authority continued to work to prevent illicit substances from entering the country, civil society organisations had an equally important role in educating communities and preventing drug use.
She said planned activities included an awareness march, community fitness session and a national conference aimed at strengthening public education and mobilisation.
Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, Community Two Police Commander, meanwhile, warned students about the dangers associated with substances such as tramadol, methamphetamine and cocaine.
He said illicit drug use could result in organ damage and cognitive impairment and urged students to avoid peer pressure and report drug-related activities to the appropriate authorities.
Chief Inspector Tetteh assured the public that the police would continue enforcing laws governing the possession, trafficking, cultivation and distribution of illicit drugs.
