Ghana’s fight against substance abuse has reached a critical stage, with the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Eugene K. Dordoye, warning that the nation is “failing the youth” in the face of a growing opioid crisis.
Speaking at a JoyNews dialogue themed “Breaking the Chains: Ghana’s Opioid Crisis” on Thursday, August 28, Dr. Dordoye highlighted the unique dangers opioid addiction poses to the developing brains of young people.
The dialogue follows JoyNews’ latest investigative documentary, Deadly Doses, which uncovered a surge in drug use among young people in the Ashanti Region.
According to Dr. Dordoye, a consultant psychiatrist and addiction expert, the addictive nature of opioids is particularly aggressive, as the brain quickly develops a tolerance to the drug, requiring ever-increasing doses to achieve the same effect.
“Unfortunately, very unfortunately, the mind is such that if you take drugs of abuse today, tomorrow it will demand more, because what you took today will not give you the same high tomorrow,” he explained.
The Head of Department at the University of Health and Allied Sciences also cautioned about the life-threatening risks associated with both overdose and withdrawal.
“If you take too much of it at a time, you can suffer overdose death because the drug depresses your respiratory centre, meaning that you start breathing very slowly. You don’t get enough oxygen into your body, so you more or less suffocate,” he warned.
He added that abruptly stopping long-term use can also be fatal, as severe withdrawal syndrome requires professional medical supervision.
Dr. Dordoye underscored that the youth remain the most at risk.
He cited research showing that about one in four people who begin drug abuse before age 19 will become dependent, compared to just one in nine who start after age 24.
“If we are able to protect our young people for some time before they start using, we stand a higher chance of them not getting into it,” he stated.
However, he lamented the lack of adequate protective measures. “Unfortunately, we are not protecting our young ones, and I think as a nation, we are failing them,” he said.
Opioid abuse in Ghana has been driven primarily by the misuse of Tramadol, a synthetic opioid widely used by young men in the informal sector to cope with physical strain and economic hardship.
The crisis has, however, evolved with a surge in the illicit importation of even more potent opioids such as Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, often smuggled under unregistered brands like Tafrodol and Timaking.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and other security agencies have intercepted several shipments of these unapproved drugs at entry points, underscoring the severity of the illegal trade.
Recent efforts by the government and regulatory bodies include:
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Reclassification of Tramadol: Now a controlled drug, available only by prescription.
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Destruction of illicit drugs: The Ministry of Health and FDA have destroyed large consignments to deter traffickers and raise public awareness.
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Inter-agency collaboration: A joint task force involving the FDA, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and Customs has intensified border checks and raids.
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Public awareness campaigns: Initiatives like “Daabi – Say No to Drug Abuse” target the youth through innovative means, including music videos featuring popular artists.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including porous borders and limited inter-agency intelligence sharing.
As Dr. Dordoye’s warning makes clear, a more concerted and sustained national effort is urgently needed to protect Ghana’s youth from the devastating and often fatal consequences of opioid abuse.
Source: David Apinga
