Drug Abuse: The High That Comes at a Cost

Ghana is facing a growing drug and substance-abuse crisis, and recent revelations should serve as a wake-up call to every responsible citizen.

The recent announcement by Ghana’s Interior Minister concerning applicants disqualified from recruitment into the country’s security agencies is deeply alarming. Of the 6,000 young people reportedly disqualified, approximately 4000 were said to have been rejected due to drug-related issues. For me this should not simply make headlines for a few days and then fade away. They should force us to ask serious questions about the future of our young people and the kind of society we are building.

The security agencies are expected to recruit disciplined, responsible and physically and mentally fit individuals. When such a significant number of young applicants are eliminated because of drug-related concerns, it points to a problem that goes far beyond recruitment. It is a reflection of a wider social challenge that requires urgent national attention.

Indeed, while much of the attention is rightly focused on marijuana and other illegal drugs, alcohol is also causing enormous damage to our society. Excessive alcohol consumption has become so common that many people who would, in other societies, be recognized as suffering from alcohol dependence continue to function within their communities without receiving the help they need.

The disturbing reality is that substance abuse does not discriminate between the rich and the poor. Drugs and alcohol have become an escape for people from different social and economic backgrounds. For some, they offer temporary relief from unemployment, poverty, stress or disappointment. For others, they have become part of a lifeclass. But whatever the reason, the consequences can be devastating.

The greatest concern should be the impact on the next generation. Young people struggling with substance abuse may lose opportunities, damage their health, become involved in crime or violence, and fail to reach their full potential. A nation cannot secure its future if a significant portion of its youth is being consumed by addiction.

How Do We Address This Cancer?
First, this is therefore not a problem for government alone. Parents, schools, religious organizations, chiefs, civil society, the media and communities all have important roles to play in confronting this growing threat.

Second, we need stronger prevention and education programmes, better access to rehabilitation and counseling, responsible enforcement of drug laws, and honest conversations about alcohol abuse. Prevention must begin early, and young people must be equipped with the knowledge and support they need to make responsible choices.

Third, and most importantly, we must stop treating addiction simply as a moral failure and begin addressing it as a serious social and public-health challenge while holding accountable those who profit from the illegal drug trade.

Fourth, our law enforcement agencies must strengthen border protection and prevent the illegal importation and distribution of drugs into the country. We cannot afford to leave our boarders vulnerable to those who seek to profit from the destruction of our young people.

Fifth, we must stop politicizing the drug problem by giving it partisan labels. The drug problem is neither an NDC nor an NPP problem. It is a Ghanaian problem, and it demands a national response.

Sixth, we must require commercial drivers to undergo compulsory drug and alcohol testing before plying our roads. The safety of passengers and other road users cannot be compromised.

The warning signs are already before us. The reported disqualification of thousands of young people from security service recruitment should be more than statistics-it should be a wake up call.

Ghana cannot afford to lose its young generation to drugs and alcohol. The time for complacency is over. We must act now to protect our youth, strengthen our communities and safeguard the future of our nation.

Abdallah Kassim Tijani
Ak5tijani@gmail.com

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