Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - Lack of reliable statistical data on substance abuse in the country is undermining the needed attention to address the magnitude of substance abuse. Despite the lack of national data, various regional and district surveys suggest that alcoholism is very rampant among males. Dr. Sammy Ohene, Head of Department of Psychiatry of the University of Ghana Medical School, said this at the opening of a two-day sub-regional workshop for the West African College of Nursing in Accra. The workshop attended by Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Nigeria and Gabon is under the theme: "Updating on Drug Abuse, Counselling and Treatment."

Dr. Ohene who spoke on the topic; "Alcohol and Illicit Drugs" noted that most users started as young adolescents whilst tolerance and dependence were very common to multiple drug abuse. He said substances of abuse included cannabis, crack, cocaine, heroine, nicotine, pethidine, codeine, morphine, khat and inhalants, which include glue, petrol and thinner. He noted that a survey conducted in the Upper West Region indicated that alcoholism was on the increase with pito being the most widely used right from children to adults. Dr Ohene added that women who drank alcohol developed medical complications faster than men and it could result in cases such as birth defects, nutritional deficiency, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, among others.

"Pregnant women who drink alcohol give birth to children with physical defects and mentally retarded children and sometimes accuse their old grandmothers of bewitching them, forgetting that it was due to the excessive intake of alcohol." He said substance abuse could also have negative impact on families, delay in decision-making, imbalances in resource distribution and distortion of family routine. Dr. Ohene called for intensive education and urged the Ministry to ensure the early passage of the Mental Health Bill to address all the mental and mental-related problems.

Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director of Human Resource of the Ministry of Health, called for the need for mental health nurses to pursue a degree programme in psychiatry as post-basic course. He called on the youth to stay away from alcohol and illicit drugs and focus on their education to be more productive for a better future. Mrs. Victoria Abbeyquaye, president of the college, called on parents and guardians to be alert and observe changes in their children's lifestyles and ensure that they lived lives devoid of drugs and be educated to become useful professionals. 23 Sept. 08