By Mavis Quansah
Accra, Aug. 28, GNA – The Tema Executive Lions Club, in collaboration with the Tema General Hospital’s Mental Health Unit, has engaged students of the Labone Senior High School on drugs and substance abuse to curb the menace among the youth.
Madam Getrude Etornam Lumor, the Mental Health Coordinator for Tema General Hospital, said that drug and substance abuse was the unprescribed intake of medication or the overdose of a prescribed medication.
Madam Lumor added that the intake of these drugs causes substance dependence, which is the physiological dependence or the adaptation caused by repeated administration of drugs which leads to the appearance of the withdrawal syndrome.
She said when adolescents abuse drugs such as marijuana, a substance in it called tetrahydrocannabinol infuses into the bloodstream and over-activates the functioning of the brain, which causes individuals to become high and misbehave while also affecting their memory.
She said, at the adolescent stage, the brain was not fully formed, so when adolescents start abusing drugs, it depletes the formation of the brain, which causes its malfunctioning, affecting the thinking ability of individuals and how they perceive and make decisions.
She explained that, mostly, students indulge in drug and substance abuse due to peer pressure, curiosity, and lack of guidance.
Madam Lumor further noted that these drugs, cannabis, marijuana, and helium, among others, were now infused into various foods such as shito, toffees, biscuits, drinks, and kenkey, and therefore urged the students to be cautious where they purchase their foods from.
She encouraged the students to watch out for each other, stating that instead of stigmatising such mates; they should report to the school authority for them to receive the needed help.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr Rejoice Lawer Letsa, the Charter President for the Tema Executive Lions Club, stated that drug abuse was destroying the youth; therefore, the club’s initiative to get involved as part of its engagement trainings is to engage with students, who are the future leaders of the country, to educate them and offer counselling sessions for them where needed.
She said: “What might start as ‘just try it once’ often turns into a trap that is very hard to escape, which affects their academic performances, damages health, breaks families and could even cost lives.”
She added that the students have a choice for life, health, and a future full of possibilities; therefore, it was important that they offer them all the information, education, and guidance they needed to make these life decisions.
She encouraged teachers, parents, and guardians to be good examples to the students and create avenues for them to share their life and academic struggles with instead of confiding in their friends.
Madam Letsa also advised the students to set goals and get mentors to look up to to enable them to achieve their aspirations.
Madam Rejoice Akua Acorlor, the Headmistress of Labone Senior High School, expressed appreciation to the Tema Executive Lions Club and the Tema General Hospital for an insightful education.
She mentioned that the school counselling department was doing its best to educate the students on this menace, adding, however, that having organisations also coming in to share information with them gives the students an understanding of the severity of the issues.
She extended an invitation to the clubs, old students, and other non-government organisations to deepen engagement with the students and increase awareness of mental health and substance and drug abuse.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/Benjamin Mensah