CURBING DRUG ADDICTION

THE death of Kiki Gyan, one of Ghana's most talented musicians recently,
has once again underscored the need for proper drug rehabilitation centers
to take care of the growing menace of drug addiction in the country.

Had Kiki had the benefit of a proper drug rehabilitation regime, perhaps he
would have still been around today to enhance our music with his
scintillating performances.

Although one hesitates to admit that he was killed because of a drug
overdose, those who knew his prolonged battle with drug addiction will tell
you differently. The fact remains that no proper drug rehabilitation center
exists in this country to take care of the thousands upon thousands of our
youth who have fallen prey to hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

But to be truthful, these so-called hard drugs do not constitute the only
problem facing our society as far as drug addiction is concerned. As a
matter of fact, alcoholism poses an even harder problem to solve since
alcohol is a socially and legally accepted drug and obtainable all over the
country.

Alcoholism, which is simply addiction to alcohol, poses such a threat to
our national well-being that should statistics be made available, we are
certain that it would be one of the most debilitating factors in our body
politic. The amount of man-hours lost to economic activities due to those
who don't report to work due to drunkenness or hang-overs must surely be
great considering the number of Ghanaians who drink themselves stupid.

The local distilled gin, commonly called "akpeteshie" is imbibed with much
guesto by many of our working classes and even those higher on the social
structure. Indeed one of the reasons for careless driving and the
unnecessary accidents on our roads and highways can be put to the drinking
of hard liquor by irresponsible drivers. Despite a law banning the sale of
hard liquor at lorry parks, a visit to any lorry park will show that liquor
bars exist almost in all of them.

This is not good enough. Combined with addiction to tobacco, alcoholism
poses a serious health threat to this country, apart from the other
consequences that emanate out of addiction. We as a country that is
striving to develop into a middle-level income earning status by the next
two decades, cannot afford to gloss over such things and make enough
meaningful progress in our quest to uplift ourselves from poverty.

According to Mr. Frank A. Boateng, President of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Ghana (PSG) there was a direct linkage between drugs and the increased
crime wave and that 50% of crime and violence were committed by drug addicts.

He noted that drug abuse undermined the government's economic activities
and corrupted legitimate business. It was also responsible for lost wages,
broken families and deteriorating communities. The President of the PSG is
in a unique position to know about these issues and The Chronicle is happy
that he has seen the need to make this problem known to the larger society.

We are pleased that he has also called for proper rehabilitation centers to
be established as effective ways to combat drug addiction. We know that the
problem of drug addiction has now spread to almost all the major population
centers of our country. From Accra to Aflao, Takoradi to Tamale, the
problem is daily growing and if firm steps are not taken, we shall soon be
engulfed by repercussions, which we may find very hard to contain.

The facilities existing now, namely treatment at the various psychiatric
hospitals - Accra, Pantan and Ankaful - are grossly inadequate to really
solve or even make a dent on the growing problem. The Catholic Remar NGO's
facilities don't seem to be of any effect whatsoever since there is a large
relapse rate of those who seek relief there.

The Chronicle believes this is time for the Ministry of Health, the
Department of Social Welfare and other stakeholders to compel Parliament to
debate the problem and come out with a comprehensive solution to the
dangerous levels drug addiction is taking this country.

We owe it to ourselves to protect the vulnerable in our society and to make
sure that drugs of any sort don't defile the minds of our youth.

Something must be done soon.