Youth cautioned against hard drugs

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

 

Mr. Ben Dadzie, Ashanti Regional Head of the Narcotics Control Board, has cautioned the general public, especially the youth, to desist indulging in drug abuse, because it would result in the loss of their ambitions.

He said there were some drugs which are medically used to treat illness and diseases, to relieve pain, anxiety, stress and socially to enhance pleasure, as well as legal drugs that are medically acceptable to relieve pain and disease, while others are banned by law, because when used, could be injurious to health, and can be addictive and affects the central nervous system.

The narcotics officer explained this at an exhibition organised to sensitise the general public at the Central Business District of Adum in Kumasi on the harmful effects of illicit drugs on mankind, and that when one becomes addicted to hard drugs, it may lead to death before one attains 45 years, or to a psychiatric hospital.

He said the repeated and excessive use of a natural and or synthetic substance for non-medical reasons was likely to produce pleasure, or escape reality, despite its destructive effects.

He also appealed to parents to take good care of their wards and help them to resist peer pressure.

According to him, it was mostly the teens who would want to turn to drugs to satisfy their curiosity about the effects, or try to escape emotional problems, relieve boredom, and rebel against parental values or authority, which eventually leads to one becoming a drug addict.

Ms. Monica Tabaah, leader of the student group, who participated in the sensitisation programme, commended the Ashanti Regional office of the Narcotics Control Board, and hoped the outfit would take the sensitisation programme to inmates of the Cheshire Home at Kwadaso, and the Edwinase Rehabilitation Center, as well as to street children

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