The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the North East Region has intensified its efforts against drug abuse, successfully seizing and destroying over 200 medical products, including the highly abused tramadol.
This operation is part of a broader strategy to combat the escalating issue of drug addiction among the youth in the region.
The FDA, in collaboration with the Gambaga and Nalerigu Youth Associations, the National Investigation Bureau, the Narcotic Control Board, and other key stakeholders, executed a joint operation targeting illegal drugs.
The seized drugs, valued at thousands of dollars, were confiscated from various locations in Gambaga.
Jacob Amoako Mensah, the head of the FDA in the region, emphasized the detrimental effects of drug abuse on individuals and society.
He warned the youth against the use of tramadol, highlighting the severe consequences of addiction, including the potential for criminal behavior.
“What we want to tell the youth is that they should desist from tramadol,” Mensah stated.
“When it gets to a point when the person has become addicted, it is difficult to treat such a person. So we don’t want them to be using tramadol. Let doctors prescribe tramadol before one uses it.”
The recent operation is part of the FDA's sustained efforts to mitigate drug abuse in the North East Region.
The agency is calling on parents, teachers, and community leaders to play a proactive role in preventing drug abuse among young people.
Mr. Mensah expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the community and law enforcement agencies.
“This exercise today, we have the youth, we have the Gambaga and Nalerigu Youth Associations, the National Investigation Bureau, and the Narcotic Control Board, all being part and the two Associations who have helped us to embark on this particular exercise to destroy this quantity of tramadol that we are destroying today.”
Drug addiction, particularly among the youth, remains a pressing issue in Ghana.
The FDA's crackdown is a critical step in addressing this challenge, ensuring that dangerous substances are removed from circulation and that young people are steered away from harmful practices.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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