The threat posed by opioid abuse is bigger than galamsey – Youth Development Minister

The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare-Addo has described the rate at which the youth are abusing opioids as a threat to the country’s future.

He stated that the threat posed by the opioid abuse is bigger than the illegal mining (Galamsey) menace.

“I have said time without number that this threat is real. It is even bigger than galamsey threat that has engulfed this country. The reason is very simple. It can hit very close to home. Our tertiary institutions are becoming epicenters. We must enforce measures to stop the drug from entering the market,” he told Godwin Asediba in an interview for a documentary titled- Hooked on Red.

The documentary which aired on May 28 on TV3 illustrates in photographic detail how many youth are resorting to the abuse of the medication called Red 225 to enhance their energy only to get addicted.

“My parents never gave me reason to believe in second chances,” she said, her voice sharp yet fragile. “Sometimes I bleed, and when it gets bad, I take some pills to feel relieved.” A mother to a 9-year-old boy, Safia’s fleeting moments of joy are overshadowed by the drug’s grip.

Heyford Kwesi Bosompeng, a 40-year-old who has battled addiction for over two decades, explained its rise.

“That’s what the boys are heavily into now,” he said. “Those who smoke weed are lying low because of police arrests. They used to hide to take the pills, but now you see them openly on the streets. They’re not sick, yet they’re constantly on medication.”

Nearby, 26-year-old Kwabeba Osei admitted to using Red to “relax” after work or enhance intimacy with his wife. “It makes her happy,” he said, acknowledging his addiction but feeling powerless to stop.

 

The epidemic isn’t confined to Accra. In Kumasi’s Asawase, I met Philip David, a 31-year-old tricycle operator who has used Red for nearly five years.

Each morning, he visits the local ghetto to stock up, keeping pills close to “boost” his strength for the day.

 

“I took some last night, and it works for a long time,” he said. “For many girls and boys, Red has become like a sex pill. I’m addicted. I want to stop, but I still find myself taking it.”

In Ash-Town, the youth are shadows of themselves, defending Red as a source of energy and confidence. “The drug helps us think and work hard,” one said defiantly. “If they stop it, we’ll take guns and rob in broad daylight. Red calms me.” Another added, “I take it like medicine. If I don’t, I won’t feel active all day.”

Mr Opare-Addo acknowledged that, “If we don’t deal with this wholistically and drastically, a time will come when we would have a deficit in the number of people who will be available and able to work.”

He noted that, “We must enforce the measures so that it is strictly adhered to. The drug should not find its way onto the market. Everybody who brings it in, there should be proper stock taking. So that we are able to follow the trail. We must also check our pharmacies.”

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