Dr Kingsley Agyemang, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health and MP for Abuakwa South Constituency, is calling on the government to allocate sufficient funds to tackle the growing abuse of opioid drugs among the nation’s youth.
He warns that this crisis is severely affecting young people’s mental health and requires immediate intervention.
Speaking during a debate on the 2025 budget in Parliament, the Abuakwa South legislator criticised the government for failing to incorporate concrete measures to address opioid abuse in its financial plan.
He stressed the urgent need for corrective action, drawing attention to the emergence of a new opioid substance known as “red,” which is becoming increasingly abused.
“Mr Speaker, the new opioid substance is called ‘red.’ Mr Speaker, do you know what ‘red’ is? It is the latest opioid being misused. Yet, despite the government’s commitment to addressing mental health issues, as boldly stated in the NDC’s manifesto, there is no provision for this crisis in the national budget. We are all at risk. You aim to create jobs for the youth, but these same young people, whom you intend to empower, are battling substance abuse. The national budget must address this urgent issue.”
Ghana and its West African neighbours are grappling with a significant opioid crisis, particularly involving the non-medical use of prescription medications like tramadol and tapentadol.
Over the past five years, reports have highlighted a surge in tramadol abuse among the youth, often linked to work-related stress and socio-economic challenges. This trend has raised alarms about the potential for widespread addiction and associated health risks.
Compounding the issue, recent investigations have uncovered the illegal importation of unapproved opioid combinations into West Africa, including Ghana. Notably, a BBC Africa Eye report exposed the distribution of drugs containing tapentadol and carisoprodol by certain pharmaceutical companies, which has led to severe addiction and overdoses among users.
In response, Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified enforcement efforts, seizing illicit drugs and imposing fines to curb this growing menace.
However, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang believes the government must do more to tackle the crisis.
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