The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has launched a nationwide crackdown aimed at tackling the growing abuse of opioids across the country.

The initiative, led in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission, the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division, the Pharmacy Council, and the Ghana Police Service’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit, is part of a broader strategy to curb the rising trend of substance misuse, particularly among the youth.

Speaking to the media on Friday, following an intelligence-led operation in the cities of Tema and Ashaiman, Dr Olivia Agyekumaa Boateng, Director of Tobacco and Substance Abuse at the FDA, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health.

“We are telling everybody that we are coming at them,” Dr Boateng said. “This is affecting our youth, and we are coming at them with a lot of strategies beyond public education on the dangers these drugs pose to their lives.”

Dr Boateng stressed the importance of removing illegal opioids already circulating in markets, warning that these substances are fuelling the surge in addiction.

“It is important to raid the market of what has already entered the country. We are also going to ensure that there is broader, stricter control,” she said.

She added that the FDA is also working with mental health services to ensure that individuals struggling with addiction can access psychological support.

The FDA says it will intensify its collaboration with key partners and step up public awareness campaigns as part of its long-term response to the crisis.

Source::TheDotNews