The Mental Health Authority of Ghana observed the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, alongside global participants. The Authority has urged stakeholders—including the government, NGOs, educational institutions, the media, and the general public—to collaborate in fighting drug abuse by prioritizing preventive measures.

The Authority highlighted that Ghana is grappling with an increasing drug abuse problem, particularly among the youth, which poses significant threats to public health, safety, and socio-economic progress.

According to data from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS) reported by the Mental Health Authority, mental disorders resulting from alcohol and other psychoactive substances consistently rank among the top 10 reasons for mental health outpatient visits.

In 2023, there were 3,765 cases of mental disorders attributed to alcohol use and 5,554 cases linked to other psychoactive substances.

Over the last five years, the number of mental disorder cases due to psychoactive substance use has risen steadily, from 4,155 in 2019 to 5,554 in 2023. The most affected age group is 20–34 years, though it is concerning that children as young as 10–14 years are also exhibiting conditions related to drug use.

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations initiative dedicated to addressing drug abuse and the illegal drug trade.

The Mental Health Authority's appeal stresses the importance of a unified effort to tackle this pressing issue.

Source by www.ghanaweb.com