Rising Crisis: Opioid Abuse Among Ghanaian Youth Sparks Urgent Call for Action

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) is urging tighter regulations and enhanced oversight to combat the alarming rise in opioid addiction, which has become a major public health threat across the country.

The Growing Threat of Opioid Abuse

Ghana is witnessing a surge in the illegal sale and misuse of powerful painkillers, particularly:

Tramadol – Especially the highly potent 225 mg “street red” variant

Codeine-based medications

These substances are being abused without prescriptions, leading to severe health risks such as:

Addiction & dependency

Mental health disorders

Organ damage

Fatal overdoses

Pharmaceutical Society’s Urgent Recommendations

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Dr. Richmond Adusa-Poku, an executive member of the PSG, emphasized the need for greater enforcement by regulatory bodies, including:

Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)

Pharmacy Council

Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC)

He stressed that unlicensed pharmacies are fueling the crisis by selling opioids at dangerously high doses, with some pharmacies illegally distributing 225 mg tramadol—a dose considered “completely out of order.”

Dr. Adusa-Poku’s Warning:

“Pharmacists have a ‘Dangerous Drugs Book’ where opioids are recorded per prescription and stamped for monitoring. The FDA also has a policy to track opioid sales separately. Yet, illegal pharmacies are still selling the ‘street red’ variant. NACOC intelligence officers must work with community leaders to trace these sources.”

What Needs to Be Done?

The PSG is calling for:

Increased inspections of pharmacies and drug distribution networks

Crackdowns on unlicensed and unscrupulous sellers

Stronger prescription monitoring systems

Community engagement to identify illegal suppliers

Join the Fight Against Opioid Abuse!

What do you think about the growing opioid crisis in Ghana? Should authorities crack down harder on illegal drug sellers? Share your thoughts in the comments!