The Upper East Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Edem Quarshie Ameglah, has indicated that there has been a rise in the use of psychoactive substances in the region within the first five months of the year.
Mr. Ameglah, made the revelation at the 2017 World Drug Day organized by LOAD Ghana, a Civil Society Organization based in the Upper East with the vision towards alcohol and drug free society where everyone, especially the youth is empowered to actualize their God given talents, potentials and dreams.
He disclosed that, mental disorders due to alcohol use recorded in first five months in 2017 was 106 males, 35 females making a total of 141. While the highest number of alcohol abusers were in the age group of 35-49 for both males and females giving a total of 52. This was followed by those in the ages of 20 -34 with a records of 41 people.
Mental disorders due to psychoactive substance use in the first five months in 2017 was 163 males, 8 females making a total of 171 and this was highest among age 20- 34; a situation he described as a worrying trend.
On his part, Mr. Abaa Roger Atambire, Director Load Ghana, lamented over the high level consumption of alcohol and drug in the region by the future leaders of tomorrow.
“Our people, especially the youth are joining the alcohol consumption in their numbers attracting many sellers and drinking spots into the region. Drinking spots in the region have outnumbered both schools and hospitals sending our scarce productive youth to their early graves.”
“Families are falling apart, marriages are breaking, lawlessness is increasing, accidents on our roads amount to suicide bombing, very young widows are increasing, talents and dreams are dying all caused by alcoholism and misuse of other related substances.”
Mr. Abaa also used the platform to advise school children who were present at the 2017 World Drug Day celebration to desist from any drug or alcohol relationship because that will affect their education.
Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/a1radioonline.com
