82,500 Ghanaians actively using hard drugs, study reveals

A concerning study reveals that an estimated 82,500 Ghanaians are actively using hard drugs, with the Ashanti Region accounting for nearly 20 percent of this figure. Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), disclosed these findings, highlighting an escalating public health emergency. The study, conducted by the University of Ghana School of Public Health, identified heroin, cocaine, tramadol, and methamphetamine as prevalent hard drugs, excluding cannabis, which remains the most widely abused illegal substance.

The research also uncovered a disturbing correlation between hard drug use and the spread of HIV in the Ashanti Region. In this region alone, an estimated 16,300 hard drug users were recorded, with HIV prevalence among them standing at 6.6 percent, nearly five times Ghana's national average of 1.4 percent. Major General Obuba expressed grave concern over the devastating impact of drug use on the youth, warning of severe health, social, and economic consequences if the problem is not addressed urgently.

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The statistics highlight the urgent need for stronger interventions to prevent drug use and address its consequences.

NACOC is advocating for a comprehensive strategy that moves beyond traditional law enforcement. Major General Obuba stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach integrating prevention with medical and social support, urging families, schools, traditional authorities, and community leaders to play a more active role. He also called for increased investment in rehabilitation facilities to aid individuals battling drug dependence and facilitate their reintegration into society. This aligns with the Narcotics Control Commission Act of 2020, which emphasizes treatment and rehabilitation over imprisonment for minor personal drug offenses, treating substance use disorder as a public health issue.

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Drug use is a public health issue just like malaria or an ulcer.