Ghanaian youth and students have been warned against taking food and drinks mixed with drugs, cautioning that such practice could negatively affect their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Dr Amankwah Arthur, the Deputy Director, Health Promotion, at the Mental Health Authority, Ghana, who made the call, said the youth must not allow peer influence, curiosity or the desire to achieve certain effects, lure them into such practices, without considering the possible consequences.
These serious consequences could jeopardize their future permanently.
Dr Amankwa Arthur speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, explained that, mixing drugs with food or drinks could expose students to substances in unknown quantities, making it difficult to determine how much of a drug had been consumed.
He noted that, the effects could vary from one person to another, depending on the type of drug, the quantity consumed and the individual’s health condition.
The mental health expert said, misuse of drugs could affect the normal functioning of the brain and contribute to problems such as poor concentration, confusion, anxiety, unusual behaviour and other mental health difficulties.
He therefore, urged students to avoid accepting food, drinks or substances from people when they were not certain about their contents.
He indicated that university authorities must ensure that people did not sell anything at all on campuses.
It has been observed that some toffees and drinks sold on some tertiary school campuses have been mixed with some substances and must be immediately checked.
The mental health professional also advised students not to take medication prescribed for other persons, stressing that, medicines should only be used according to the instructions of qualified health professionals.
He urged students who were already using drugs or substances to seek professional help rather than hiding the situation because of fear or embarrassment.
Early treatment, could save a devastating situation in mental health.
He also called on parents and guardians to pay greater attention to changes in the behaviour of their children and engage them in open conversations about drugs and other antisocial practices and their effects.
Additionally, teachers and school authorities, he said, also had an important role to play by educating students about substance misuse and providing appropriate support for those facing challenges.
He encouraged students to report situations where they suspected that food or drinks had been deliberately mixed with drugs, saying such incidents should be taken seriously.
Dr Amankwa Arthur further urged students to concentrate on their education, maintain healthy lifestyles and stay away from substances that could jeopardise their physical and mental wellbeing.
He said protecting the mental health of young people required collective efforts from students, parents, teachers, health professionals and the wider community.
He called on the media to use their platforms to support mental health awareness creation and prevention, to save the nation’s future leaders from mental issues.
