The Deputy Eastern Regional Police Public Relation Officer (DPRO) , Sergeant Gamado Francis has express worry over the abuse of tramadol by the youth especially in the Eastern Region.

Mr Gamado explained that most murder cases reported recently involving the youth have been found to have a connection with tramadol abuse.

Tramadol is a drug prescribed by medical officers for the treatment of severe pain.

He said this in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua.

Medical officers explained that tramadol is an opioid analgesic (painkiller) which is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain and is considered a safer alternative to other narcotic analgesics.

Tramadol addicts risk suffering accidental overdose and have symptoms like decreased size of the pupils of the eyes of the addict, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness and sometimes can lead one to coma.

Long term abusers of tramadol could eventualy develop a physical dependence on the drug and experience unpleasant or even dangerous symptoms of withdrawal if one stopped taking the medication.