Dr. Dennis Daliri, the Upper East Region’s only psychiatrist, has raised serious concerns about the rising trend of substance abuse among young people in the region, warning that it is rapidly evolving into a public health crisis.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show as part of Mental Health Month celebrations, Mr. Kazapoe emphasized that the growing normalization of drug and alcohol use in homes and communities is fuelling a dangerous wave of addiction and mental health complications among the youth.
“Substance abuse is predominantly among the youth, particularly adolescents,” Dr. Daliri noted. “They are naturally curious, easily influenced by peers, and exposed to environments where drug and alcohol use is normalized — even during pregnancy in some cases.”
He referenced an ongoing study conducted in the Upper East Region, which reveals that some pregnant women engage in substance use due to their upbringing in homes where such habits are considered normal. “When young people grow up seeing family members use substances like alcohol and marijuana as a norm, they are likely to follow suit,” he said.
Dr. Daliri warned that early exposure and continuous use of substances like marijuana and opioids could trigger underlying mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition. “Many who come to our facility have already developed severe complications. By then, some have become vagrants, completely detached from their homes and communities.”
Most worrying, he said, is that many of these young individuals do not even believe they have a problem. “They openly say they are not ready to quit. The damage is evident, but the denial is stronger.”
Dr. Daliri stressed the need for increased public education and advocacy to reduce the appeal of substance use among the youth and to gradually break the stigma around mental health treatment. “Evidence shows that consistent advocacy helps. It might not yield instant change, but over time, it influences the subconscious minds of those affected.”
He called on families and communities to act with empathy and responsibility. “We often hear people say, ‘You bought the drug yourself, so why should I help you?’ But when it becomes a social cancer, we must all step in. Addiction is not just a personal problem; it’s a societal disease.”
In addressing the challenges of treatment, Dr. Daliri explained the psychological approach used at his facility, including motivational interviewing, which helps move individuals from denial to realization and eventually to the decision to quit. “It’s a process,” he said. “We don’t expect them to be ready from day one.”
However, the mental health unit in the region is severely understaffed. “As it stands, I’m probably still the only psychiatrist in the region,” Daliri lamented. “We are trying to train other health professionals to assist, but we need more hands and greater motivation to retain staff.”
He also pointed out that many mental health workers have left the region in search of better opportunities down south or abroad. “To move forward, the region must start incentivizing people to enter and stay in the mental health profession. Without that, we cannot meet the growing demand.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
