Drug Abuse: 47% of women between the ages of 15 and 65 are engaged -Narcotics Commission

According to the Narcotics Control Commission, 47% of females between the ages of 15 and 65 are engaged in drug abuse.

Every year on June 26, people all over the world observe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking. “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention” is the theme of this year’s commemoration.

Francis Opoku Amoah, the Narcotics Control Commission’s (NACOC) acting director of public affairs and international relations, however, explained that the women are now using drugs as well.

He said that when they visited rehab facilities, data from those facilities revealed that 47% of women are into drug abuse.

“Previously, when we talk about drug abuse, you will think about men but now figures from the rehabilitation centers we visited revealed that,  fifty 53% of male between the ages of 15-65 are engaging in drug abuse while the remaining 47% are female. But so far, male are still dominating drug abuse in the country.”

According to Mr. Amoah, peer pressure, and being adventurous are the things that drive men to engage in such behavior, whereas, relationships, peer pressure, exploration, among other things are factors drive women to do so.

When asked how the state can curb this issue, the acting director of public affairs and international relations at the Narcotics Control Commission said that most drug users are unaware of the effects the drugs have on them, so there is a need for extensive education to make young people aware of the risks drug abuse poses to their lives and the need for them to stop using drugs.

He also advised ladies to end relationships with individuals who are leading them into such risky activities.

Francis Opoku Amoah stated again that, the rehabilitation centers in the Country are not enough to help treat some of these people who have become drug addict which is also a major problem in helping victims.

Again, he added that the law that changed their name from Narcotics Control Board to Narcotics Control Commission has also reviewed punishment given to those who are arrested for engaging in hard drug

“At first when one is arrested for engaging in hard drugs is arraigned before court and when found guilty, he or she is given at five years imprisonment but now with the new law, people who are arrested for engaging in hard drug, they are taken to court and the judges together with doctors will have to examine the fellow and they will recommend if she or she should be taken to a rehabilitation center.”

He concluded that, the new law allows persons arrested on drugs to be sent to rehabs rather than imprisonment.