The youth of Sabon Zango a suburb of Accra has over the weekend organized a day-long seminar on Drug Abuse. The seminar was part of efforts by the Chief of Sabon Zango to eradicate drug peddling and curb the menace of drug addiction among the youth. The program was organized in collaboration with various stakeholders from the Health sector, District Police Command, Arabic Schools and representatives of interest groups within the community.
Addressing the participants, Clinical Psychologist/ psycho- oncologist at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Salisu Abdul-Rahim Ango stated that usage of hard drugs among the youth, especially youngsters is alarming, very dangerous and can influence the next generation. He attributed the surge in drug abuse to different factors including curiosity and willingness among others, adding that many gradually start abusing drugs and subsequently become addicted to it. The initiative by the youth to protect the next generation from any form of hard drugs he reiterated, requires collective efforts from people with the courage to fight against the canker. The committee tasked to fight the canker according to him has a lot of technical and strategic challenges in tackling the issue which is now a menace to the community and its environs.
According to him, the majority of the youth have internalized the idea that drug usage facilitates learning. He, therefore, advised the youth to abstain from it and an alternative means of achieving their goals. Most of the abusers he said, engage in the act to prevent them from sleeping during their daily activities like super bet and internet cafe. It is not a good practice for one to use drugs under those circumstances. Explaining the effects of drugs, Dr. Salisu Abdul-Rahim Anglo revealed that drugs have huge effects on the brain and has a tendency to affect learning and can lead to abnormal behaviour. Other effects he said include Cancer, Langs and kidney infection and urged the youth to stay away from drug abuse as its effects are enormous.
Source: wadataonline.com/Muhammed Faisel Mustapha
