NACOB sensitizes students on dangers of drugs use

As part of programmes lined up to mark this year’s International Day of Narcotics and Drug Abuse, the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) in collaboration with the Accra psychiatric Hospital has put together a three-day seminar which started on Monday 20th and ends on Wednesday 22nd June, 2011, at the latter’s premises.

The seminar aims at creating awareness about this year’s celebration of the International Day of Narcotics and Drug Abuse which falls on 26th June, 2011.

Officials of NACOB and the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, students of Accra Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School as well as St. John’s Grammar School, and members of the media were present.

An official of NACOB said the objective of the seminar is to reach out to the youth especially students in the second cycle institutions, sensitizing them on the negative effects of drug abuse and the need to abstain from drugs.

Addressing the gathering, a Psychiatrist at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Eugene Dordoye spoke at length on the hazards of drug abuse and the need to sensitize the youth who are the most susceptible to drug abuse.

He said young people before the age of 21 are vulnerable to drug use due to reasons such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, peer pressure among other things.

Dr. Dordoye said according to a scientific research conducted in the United States one out of ten people is likely to be addicted to drugs. He therefore cautioned students against the use of drugs such as alcohol which is the third leading cause of death in the world, cigarette, marijuana, cocaine and heroin.

He suggested that the legal age for drug use be altered from 18 to 25, when the individual’s brain is fully developed to enable him distinguish between mere feelings and rationality. In relation to this, Dr. Dordoye took participants on a tour of the BHC (Bank for Housing and Construction) and forensic wards of the hospital.

According to him, the forensic ward is purposely for psychiatric patients with criminal record or undergoing trails in the court of law. He noted that other patients other than those being tried are housed in the forensic ward.

He complained about the under-resourcefulness of the wards and the hospital in terms of finance, equipment as well as staff. Security and safety of both patients and staff of the hospital are part of the major concerns raised by him.

The students expressed their joy at being offered this opportunity to learn about such an important issue which affects national life.

They promised to relay the knowledge they have acquired to their friends. They also made a humble appeal to government to come to the aid of the psychiatric hospital as well as the patients.   

Story: Abraham Lantey Lamptey/Asempa News/Ghana