Mental cases resulting from drug abuse is on the ascendancy especially among the youth in Brong-Ahafo region.

Epilepsy is also said to be on the ascendancy.

A psychiatric specialist, Dr Jones Techie at the Sunyani regional hospital said ?wee? was cultivated on large scales in vegetable growing areas such as Techiman, Wenchi, Berekum and Techimantia and was heavily patronized by junior secondary and senior secondary school students.

"The Psychiatric Observation Depart-ment is usually filled with the youth, mostly JSS and SSS students,?? he told the GNA.

He said a chunk of the youth abused drugs basically as a result of peer pressure.

Dr Techie said also on the rise are cigarette smoking, alcohol intake and the use of cocaine and this is associated with people who have returned from abroad.

He said a number of women suffered depression as a result of failures in relationships and that epilepsy is also on the ascendancy in the region.

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