The growing use of drug-laced toffees among students in Senior High and Junior High Schools is emerging as a major mental health concern in the Bono Region, the Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Mr Joseph Yere, has warned.
Mr Yere is calling on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to strengthen measures to prevent students from accessing and consuming toffees and other products allegedly infused with Indian hemp.
He said the increasing exposure of young people to illicit substances was contributing to serious mental health problems, with some students reportedly developing conditions requiring prolonged treatment and rehabilitation.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Yere described the trend as alarming and urged schools, parents and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect children from substance abuse.
He said substance and illicit drug abuse had become a significant contributor to mental health challenges in the Bono Region.
“Out of the top 20 morbidity indicators, substance and illicit drug abuse is the third leading cause of mental health problems in the Bono Region,” he said.
According to Mr Yere, addiction should be treated as a health condition rather than simply a behavioural problem because recovery can be lengthy and financially demanding.
“Drug addiction is a disease that leads to mental health and the recovery process and going back to normal life is now expensive,” he said.
He expressed particular concern about the increasing involvement of young people in substance abuse, warning that early exposure could have long-term consequences for their education, health and future productivity.
Mr Yere therefore called for urgent and coordinated action involving the GES, parents, health professionals, community leaders and law enforcement agencies to prevent children from accessing illicit substances.
He also raised concerns about self-medication among pregnant women, saying the practice could expose unborn children to health complications, including epilepsy and other mental health-related conditions.
The Mental Health Coordinator urged the public to seek professional medical advice instead of relying on unprescribed medication, particularly during pregnancy.
He said protecting children and young people from substance abuse required early intervention, stronger prevention programmes and increased public education to address the growing mental health burden.
