Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, Health Minister
Ghana recorded a total of 666 drug related mental disorders in the first quarter of 2010.
Experts say if the trend continues till the end of this year, the nation would record over 2,600 cases representing over 30 per cent of the previous year’s case.
Last year, there were 1,945 cases of drug related mental disorders that reported to the three public psychiatric hospitals and a private one in Accra.
The figures recorded at the hospitals are only infinitesimal compared with the reality on the ground knowing that there are about a hundred more users out there than every one case recorded at the hospital.
Chief Psychiatrist at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Akwasi Osei, who made this known expressed that about 75 per cent of victims of drug related mental disorders fall between the ages of 15 and 35.
Dr Osei was speaking at the launch of the 2010 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Kumasi.
This year’s celebration is themed; “Think Health, not Drugs”.
On December 7, 1987 the General Assembly of the United Nations by resolution 42/112 decided to observe June 26 each year as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society as well as promote preventive measures.
This year’s world drug program calls on young people who are likely to take drugs, to put their health first and warns about its dangers.
The campaign also has the goal to mobilise support and to inspire people against drug abuse.
Dr Osei noted that the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) had over the years done a lot to curb the menace of drug use in the country albeit the numerous challenges it has been faced with.
The current board, he noted, was eagerly building upon the efforts of its predecessors in its quest to control the drug menace.
According to Dr Osei, the paradigm shift from enforcement to demand reduction, or rather the equalization of emphasis on both enforcement and demand reduction was commendable.
“Now the paradigm shift is that while we should continue to enforce the laws on narcotics to make sure that drugs are not supplied to the system, it is equally important to tackle those who might be the eventual users of the drugs, that is to educate them to stay away from drugs, and for those who are already using, to treat and rehabilitate them”, he added.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku Manu, delivering his welcome address at the launch, said government continued to incur huge expenses on drug related projects and programs to manage the dangerous effects of drug abuse in the country.
For this reason, he stressed that there was the need for all stakeholders to join the crusade against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking. “Apart from taking measures to avoid the wrong use of drugs in our dealings, we need to support NACOB by volunteering vital information to the appropriate agencies” he observed.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla, who launched the celebration, emphasized the need for increased and vigorous public education campaign by all civil society organizations.
He was of the hope that as the day was observed, Ghanaians would make informed decisions about Narcotic drugs and related substances, and the need to prevent their use, abuse as well as curbing their trafficking.
STORY: FROM JAMES APPIAKORANG JNR., KUMASI
