Swallowed by Drugs: Prof. Millar Links Youth Substance Abuse to Poverty, Joblessness and Idle Wealth
The rising trend of drug and alcohol abuse among the youth is becoming a worrying concern in Ghana, and according to Professor David Millar, President of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies, the menace is closely tied to poverty, unemployment, and in some cases, idle wealth. Speaking with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen in a documentary titled “Swallowed by Drugs”, Prof. Millar described the issue as “a double-edged thing” that is both poverty-driven and, to a lesser extent, influenced by excess wealth. “As for youth in drug abuse and alcohol, I would link it a bit… It’s attributable to poverty, and it’s also attributable to riches,” he explained. “If youth have excess money in their pockets and they don’t know what to do with it, they might use it in the area of alcohol and drugs. That is how the richest part is articulated.” He, however, stressed that poverty plays a bigger role in substance abuse among young people. “The poverty part is youth feeling helpless. They don’t have a job, they don’t have any means, they can’t earn any income. So instead of wallowing in their poor situation, they look for drugs to make them feel it’s not that bad,” he noted. Breaking down the proportions, Prof. Millar estimated that “40% will be due to riches, 60% will be due to the poverty level and joblessness.” He further explained how idleness and the lack of opportunity fuel reckless behavior among the unemployed youth. “One thing about the drugs is that when you take it, some of them suppress your urge to eat the whole day. So you can still survive a meal a day because the drugs compensate for the other non-available meals,” he said, highlighting how poverty directly feeds into substance dependence. On solutions, Prof. Millar was emphatic about job creation as the most effective remedy. “If we really want to deal with it, first of all, we need to make sure job opportunities are there for the youth. And not only white-collar jobs. There are a lot of jobs you can engage youth with, even if they are temporary,” he suggested. According to him, providing avenues for engagement and income will reduce idleness, though he cautioned that access to money can also lead some down the wrong path. Still, he insisted: “I would take that risk in providing them the jobs, providing them some income, occupying them because they are full of energy.” Prof. Millar also pointed out how politicians exploit this excess energy in young people. “Once you mobilise them and then you give them something in their pockets, they are ready to go. Because the energy is there, it must be expended,” he said. He further concluded that unless urgent interventions are made to tackle youth joblessness and poverty, drug and alcohol abuse will continue to rise, posing serious social challenges for the country. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Swallowed by Drugs: Rising Youth Substance Abuse Prompts Warning from FDA Regional Director
The Upper East Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr. Abel Ndego, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in drug and alcohol abuse among young people, describing it as a major threat to public health and national development. Speaking in a documentary titled “Swallowed by Drugs”, Mr. Ndego reminded the public of the FDA’s mandate under the Public Health Act 851 of 2012 to protect health and safety by regulating products that enter, exit, or are manufactured within the country. He stressed that many of the substances abused by the youth are often unregistered and unsafe. “Most of the time, from the information we gather, we realize that the majority of substances being abused are not registered by the FDA. A typical example is tramadol,” he revealed. He explained that in recent years, Ghana witnessed a surge in tramadol misuse, prompting stricter control measures. The FDA now classifies tramadol as a prescription-only drug, which must be dispensed strictly under the endorsement of a licensed medical officer. “Tramadol is not a bad drug. It is a very effective pain reliever, especially after surgery. But the misuse and abuse of it is what has landed us in this situation,” Mr. Ndego explained. Turning his attention to tobacco products, including shisha, the FDA Director debunked myths that flavored or filtered forms are less harmful. “One hour of shisha smoking is equivalent to smoking between 100 and 200 sticks of cigarettes. That is the reality,” he cautioned. He added that tobacco smoke contains more than 3,000 harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde and carcinogens, which expose both smokers and non-smokers to severe health risks. Mr. Ndego reminded the public that smoking in public is illegal in Ghana and encouraged citizens to report offenders. “When it comes to smoking, you can even effect a citizen’s arrest. It is a crime to smoke in public places, including your own car, once the engine is on because it becomes a public space,” he emphasized. On alcohol regulation, Mr. Ndego noted that although the state has not banned alcohol consumption, strict measures are in place to limit youth exposure. Alcohol cannot be sold to anyone under 18, and advertisements are banned on electronic media before 8 p.m. He also condemned the use of celebrities in alcohol promotions, arguing that it sends dangerous signals to impressionable youth. “Unfortunately, many celebrities have been used to advertise alcoholic beverages. And because they are idols to the youth, it creates the impression that alcohol is a booster to success. That is misleading,” he lamented. Mr. Ndego highlighted the importance of joint efforts in fighting substance abuse, stressing that no single institution can solve the problem alone. “This issue is multifaceted, and we must use a multilateral approach. No agency is an island,” he said, calling for stronger partnerships with the police, customs, health institutions, schools, and traditional leaders. He revealed that the FDA is even engaging traditional authorities to consider alternatives to tobacco in cultural practices such as marriage rites. While acknowledging that substance abuse often leads to crime, Mr. Ndego argued that rehabilitation should be prioritized over imprisonment for addicts. “For those who are hooked, we should have a streamlined process that identifies them, puts them through rehabilitation, and reintegrates them into society,” he proposed. The FDA Director concluded by stressing the importance of early education in addressing the menace. “They say catch them young. At the basic level, children must be taught to check expiry dates, look out for FDA registration, and understand the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. That way, health consciousness becomes second nature as they grow,” he said. Mr. Ndego reaffirmed the FDA’s commitment to enforcing regulations, carrying out market surveillance, and intensifying public education to protect the youth, the future of the nation, from the dangers of substance abuse. Source: Apexnewsgh.com