Executive Director of the Monde Hope Foundation, Anna Kumeh Blammondee, has attributed the increasing rate of substance abuse among Ghanaian youth to lack of information and knowledge.
Speaking on e.tv Ghana’s Campus Dialogue program, on the topic “Substance Abuse Among The Youth: An Epidemic In The Offing?” Anna stated that most young people are not aware of the limitations and statistics regarding substance abuse.
“Generally, most young people are not aware of the limitations. They’re mostly aware of the implications and dangers that come along with substance abuse. They’re not away of the statistics and level of percentage intake. As they engage in it, they don’t have it in mind because they normally start as taking a dose, and as the stress builds and the inability to cope with life and other variants, they resolve to find solace in substances and medications to relax and take their minds off problems and issues they face. So it’s just sheer ignorance as even the Bible says for lack of ignorance my people perish,” the trained nurse explained.
Substance abuse is a growing problem among young people in Ghana, and Anna reiterated the importance to address it. Anna believes that educating young people about the dangers of substance abuse is crucial in combating the problem.
“They basically don’t have the information and much knowledge on what they’re going into, and at the end of the day, they become addicted and eventually find it difficult to come out of it,” she added.
Anna Kumeh Blammondee believes providing information and support can help young people make informed decisions about their health and well-being and contribute to the reduction of substance abuse.
By: Jude Tackie