The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Drug Abuse (CONDA), has appealed to government and other stakeholders to provide psychological support to young people who abuse drugs to enable them come out of their addiction to facilitate their integration into society.
Mr. Peter Mintir Amadu, Chief Executive Officer of Total Life Enhancement Centre-Ghana, (TOLEC-GH), a mental health advocacy organisation that provides psychological, counselling and related services based in the Northern Region, made the appeal when he led a team of officers from CONDA to assess the progress of a project for youth engaged in drugs abuse in Tamale, dubbed “Tamale Ghettos Project”.
The “Tamale Ghettos Project” which is being implemented by TOLEC-GH, a member of CONDA, was launched on December 31, 2021. The Project seeks to educate the youth on the implications of drug abuse, build their capacity for self-development and also provide them with psychosocial support”.
Three ghettos located near Lamashegu dam, Lamashegu quarters and near Bilpela dam, were visited by the team who interacted with the drug addicts who numbered more than sixty, most of whom have been using illicit drugs, especilly smoking marijuana, between 2 to 15-years and using other substances and prescription-only medicines, including alcohol and tramadol.
Among those the team spoke to was Mohammed, a 23-year-old Senior High School dropout whose dream to be a Software Engineer appears to have hit the rocks due to his addiction and Ruhiya, an 18-year-old girl, who has been smoking marijuana since she was 15 but says she needs support to begin apprenticeship to enable her realise her dream of becoming a hair dresser.
Some of the drugs addicts are scrap dealers, fitters, drivers, school dropouts, technicians, skilled artisans such as masons, carpenters, electricians while majority of them are unemployed. Some of them also have wives and children. According to most of them, they indulge in drugs as an escapism from the daily pressures of life and also lack of employment. They, therefore, appealed to CONDA to assist them get jobs to enable them come of their present situations.
Mr. Gabriel King Akpalu, President of CONDA, said there was need to develop a comprehensive programme to address the needs and situations of drug addicts, adding that their rehabilitation and integration would require the total support of all stakeholders.
More than 300 youth from 10 ghettos are benefitting under the “Tamale Ghettos Project”. The beneficiaries have been sensitised on the harmful effects of drugs while those willing to be rehabilitated have been offered psychological support. Since its inception, the Project has offered psychological support to 120 of the beneficiaries whilst 25 others are at different levels of support towards their rehabilitation.
Source: Francis E. Monnie//Newswatchgh.com
