The Narcotics Control Commission Division in Cape Coast has cautioned the public on a new classification of drugs known as gateway drugs which are being abused.
According to the commission, these gateway drugs have become new trends that people resort to rather than the known traditional ones which are considered illegal in the country.
Speaking on ATL FM’s Atlantic Wave, Gifty Annan, Head of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit at the Narcotics Control Unit stressed how addiction to these gateway drugs compels users to resort to harder drugs.
She emphasized that the quest for energy, and relief of menstrual cramps among others leads people to abuse gateway drugs.
“…. Sometimes your output determines how much money you get and so you would want more energy and then you do more work and in effect get more money…
She added, “For young ladies, for instance, you could have menstrual cramps and it hurts. So, you get on any of the painkillers and depending on what you take, if you decide to continually take it then you are getting on to it.”
Madam Gifty Annan also mentioned that people who engage in entertainment, athletics, or sports often abuse gateway drugs to maintain the euphoria of fun.
Highlighting the gateway drugs and their prevalence, especially among the youth, Deputy Head of Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Alice Erzah emphasized that alcohol and tobacco in their various forms such as cigarettes, cigars, shisha, vaporizers and hookah have gained acceptance especially due to its flavoured varieties.
She noted that these drugs have crawled their way into society and are on the rise, especially in the Central Region.
Alice indicated that inhalants, snuff, nail polish, petrol, super glue and carpenter’s glue classified as part of the gateway drugs also continue to be used by the youth, especially women.
She, therefore, advised the youth to stay away from gateway drugs and preserve their mental health and their health in general.
“Once you graduate to the hard ones, the possibility of you getting addicted is a problem and we know addiction is a disease; it cannot be treated, it can only be managed and that is the more reason why we don’t even want you to get to that stage. Staying away from it is the best solution,” she added.
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Source: Angelina Riley Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
