10% of drug users in Ghana started before age 15 – NACOC

Major General Maxwell Obuba, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana, expressed concern over the alarming trend of young people starting drug use early. According to a 2025 study from the University of Ghana School of Public Health, 10% of drug users began their usage before the age of 15, while 54% started before reaching 19 years old.

This revelation underscores the deep penetration of drug use, particularly opioid misuse, within certain communities and the premature exposure of young individuals to its harmful consequences. During the International Youth Day celebrations in Kumasi on August 12, 2026, Obuba called for intensified preventive measures, public education, and robust support systems to tackle substance use among the youth.

He emphasized that these statistics should prompt reflection on the pervasive nature of opioid use and misuse within some communities. Obuba stressed the necessity for early interventions to safeguard children and adolescents from developing substance use disorders, noting that families, schools, communities, and state institutions must collaborate to educate young people about the dangers of drug use and provide necessary support to those at risk.

Additionally, 1,179 people received treatment for substance use disorders in 2025 through 30 treatment centers nationwide, with 88.5% of these individuals being between 20 and 44 years old. This statistic highlights the significant impact of substance use among people in their productive years. Obuba stressed that addressing the drug-use problem in Ghana requires a multifaceted approach that combines enforcement measures with prevention, education, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.