Tamale, August 2, GNA – Dr Elsei Amaley Abakisi, a Psychiatrist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, has called for intensified campaigns against the increasing trend of drugs misuse and abuse by young girls.
She said, “Recent studies indicates that approximately 32.5 percent of females are involved in drug use, with Shisha, cannabis, and Tramadol being the most commonly abused substances.”
Dr Abakisi was addressing students of Vitting Senior High School in Tamale at the invitation of Hope for Children, Power for the Youth (HOCPY Ghana), a youth-focused non-governmental organisation, operating in the Northern Region.
She said, “We need to act swiftly to rescue more girls from the grips of drug abuse. This is a serious public health concern that requires collective action.”
HOCPY Ghana initiated the campaign against abuse of drugs targeting adolescent girls, particularly those in senior high schools, to raise awareness about the growing trend of drugs abuse, especially by girls and the harmful impact on their reproductive and mental health.
The NGO, this time, took its advocacy campaign Dubbed “She Against Drugs,” to the Vitting Technical Senior High School in Tamale and sensitised the students on ways to avoid drug abuse and to live healthy lives.
Ms Diana Baapeng, Programme Lead at HOCPY Ghana, said the engagement was designed to expose young girls to the dangers of drug misuse and abuse, which she indicated had become increasingly common.
“We are focusing on the girls because we have realized that many of them are now catching up with the trend where they feel it is normal to abuse drugs”.
She explained that “Drugs abuse among girls have serious consequences on their reproductive health and mental well-being, that is why it is important for all stakeholders to get involved in increasing awareness and supporting to minimise drug abuse among girls”.
She emphasized that beyond the school-based sensitization, the campaign was being extended through radio discussions and social media platforms to reach out-of-school girls.
Mr Divine Dabor, a Clinical Psychologist with the Total Life Enhancement Centre, who participated in the session, observed that emotional stress and peer pressure were among the leading causes of drug abuse among young girls.
He touched on the dangers associated with drug abuse, saying “At your age, abusing drugs is destructive because your organs are still developing. It can lead to long-term health issues, including infertility and birth defects.”
He added that drugs when abused could expose girls to sexual immoralities and sexually transmitted infections which could affect their future goals and aspirations.
The “She Against Drugs” campaign forms part of HOCPY Ghana’s broader goal of empowering young people to make informed decisions and lead productive lives.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Christian Akorlie