82,500 Ghanaians use hard drugs – NACOC

An estimated 82,500 Ghanaians are currently using hard drugs, with the Ashanti Region responsible for nearly 20 percent of this figure, according to the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba. This alarming statistic, revealed in a new study by the University of Ghana School of Public Health, highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to tackle what is described as a growing public health emergency.

The drugs identified in the study include heroin, cocaine, tramadol and methamphetamine. The study also found a significant link between hard drug use and the spread of HIV in the Ashanti Region, with 16,300 hard drug users recorded, resulting in an HIV prevalence rate of 6.6 percent - nearly five times the national average of 1.4 percent.

Maj. Gen. Obuba expressed concern over the severe impact of drug abuse on the youth, warning that without urgent action, the consequences could be grave on the health, social and economic fronts. He stressed that traditional law enforcement alone is insufficient to address the problem, and advocated for a comprehensive approach that combines prevention with medical and social support.

The NACOC Chief called for greater involvement from families, schools, traditional authorities and community leaders in protecting young people from substance abuse. He also urged increased investment in rehabilitation facilities to support individuals battling drug dependence and help them reintegrate into society. Maj. Gen. Obuba's plea for drug dependence to be treated as a public health issue aligns with the objectives of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which established a Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund and emphasized treatment and rehabilitation over imprisonment for minor personal drug use.

At a workshop in Kumasi for police prosecutors and detectives, Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, a former boss of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), urged security personnel to embrace this shift in approach, questioning why substantial public funds should be spent on imprisoning people for small-scale possession. Civil society organizations, including the POS Foundation, have supported this reform, arguing that imprisoning people for minor cannabis-related offenses could exacerbate the issue rather than reform them and create further social challenges upon their release.