He noted that causes of the drug addiction includes mental health
and peer influence among youth in the Eastern Region.
He was speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Koforidua, the regional
capital.
“We are still putting data together to put on record but I can tell you that
it is alarming and worrying,” Mr Wazila said.
“The youth are now abusing drugs and using illegal drugs in full glare
without fear due to peer influence.”
He added: “We may decide not to get worried today but you have no idea the
driver whose car you have boarded is an addict and
can make mistakes on the road resulting in an accident.
There are many more examples of the implications. We cannot watch on.”
The stakeholders meeting was organised by BEST NACEM Foundation in
partnership with Legal Aid Commission and the Attorney General
Department.
Representatives from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service,
Ghana Prison Service, traditional authorities among others participated in the
training and dialogue.
The training and dialogue was on the theme: ‘The Use of Illicit Drug and Its
Punishment: The Role of Stakeholders in Sensitizing the Youth'.
Stakeholders are expected to find lasting solutions to reducing the
addiction rate in their various sectors of engagement.
Chief Executive Officer of BEST NACEM Foundation Stephen Nana Afful
explained their focus is to reduce decongestion in the prisons and, as well,
reduce intake of drug abuse by the youth.
Government legalized the use of cannabis for health and industrial purposes
after the passing into law of the Commission Bill, 2019.
The law now makes the country's Narcotics Control Board (NACOB)
a Commission with improved powers to supervise the industrial use of some
narcotic substances.
Health experts have strongly advocated for addicts of narcotic drugs to be
properly rehabilitated and not treated as criminals.
The new law classifies drug abuse a public health issue.
SOURCE: By Yvonne
Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana
Reference: 3news.com/e-r-drug-addiction-among-youth-alarming-nacoc-head
0 Comments