By Albert Allotey
Accra, April 12, GNA – Mrs Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng, Head of Tobacco and Substance Abuse Department of the Food and Drugs Authority has called on youth-led agencies to partner with the Authority to help fight drug abuse in the country.
She said building partnership would go a long way in addressing issue of drug abuse, particularly the use of Tramadol and Tapentadol, and other emerging substances such as “RED” among the youth.
Mrs Boateng made the call at the launch of “Ghana Against Drugs – ‘Red Means Stop’” campaign by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.
The campaign is a national youth anti-drug initiative to combat the rising tide of substance abuse among the youth.
Mrs Boateng said the use of Tapentadol, like other opioids, carries alarming health risks.
“Combining Tapentadol with depressants like alcohol and other opioids leads to life-threatening respiratory depression resulting in coma or death.
“Opioid misuse causes physical and mental dependence, exacerbating the already challenging socio-economic conditions faced by many Ghanaian youths,” she stated.
Mrs Boateng said, “As the regulatory body responsible for safeguarding public health, as well as ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs in Ghana, the FDA is committed to addressing this issue through stringent regulatory measures and collaborative efforts with stakeholders, as it is already underway.”
She said the Authority in collaboration with state agencies such as the Ghana Revenue Authority, Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Police Service, Pharmacy Council, among others has and is still conducting rigorous surveillance, seizing illicit drugs, and imposing sanctions on perpetrators.
Mrs Boateng noted that the global opioid crisis has extended to West Africa, with reports of increasing abuse of substances like fentanyl, pethidine, Tapentadol and tramadol.
“In recent years, studies have highlighted a “tramadol crisis” in the sub-region, characterized by an alarming use of the drug among the youthful population, often linked to physical, psychological, and economic hardship,” she said.
She stated that in Ghana, the FDA has observed a surge in the illegal importation, sale, and distribution of unregistered opioids, including Tapentadol, adding that these substances are often smuggled into the country and sold through unauthorized channels, posing significant public health risks.
“It must be emphatically stated that most of the drugs are transit goods that find their way into the country,” she said.
Mrs Boateng said the FDA was involved in various activities aimed at promoting the responsible use of controlled substances and the prevention of opioid abuse and that it stood steadfast in its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring the safety of all regulated products in Ghana.
GNA
LAA