About 47% women involved in drugs

Narcotics Control Commission has lamented that about 47 per cent of females between the ages of 15 to 65 are engaging in drug abuse.

The development,according to the body is sad therefore calling for measures to mitigate same.

The world commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking on June 26, annually.

Theme for this year’s celebration is ‘’People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”.

But the Acting Director-Public Affairs and International Relations at Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Francis Opoku Amoah explained that, drug abuse amongst women are on the rise.

He mentioned that, they visited some rehabilitation centers and figures from the centers showed that, 47% of female are into drug abuse.

"When the issue of drug abuse comes to the fore , previously, we think about men but now figures from the rehabilitation centers we visited revealed that, fifty-three per cent(53%) of male between the ages of 15-65 are engaging in drug abuse while the remaining 47% are female", he indicated.

"But so far, male are still dominating drug abuse in the country.” Mr. Amoah said peer pressure, adventurous as factors that drag the men into such act whereas relationships, peer pressure and exploratory among the things leading the woman into it.

He was speaking in interview with a sister station in Accra.

Acting Director, Public Affairs and International Relations at Narcotics Control Commission was asked as to how the state could curb the abnormally conditions.

 Providing solution, he said those abusing the drugs are ignorant about the effects on them so there is the need for massive education to sensitize the youth about the dangers of drug abuse on their lives and the need for them to desist from it.

He also urged women whose partners are luring them into such dangerous behaviours to quit the relationship.

Francis Opoku Amoah stated again that, the rehabilitation centres in the country are woefully to accommodate the treatment of some of these people who have become drug addict.

He said the which is alinadequacy has posed a major problem in helping those victims.

Again, he added that the law that changed the name from Narcotics Control Board to Narcotics Control Commission has also reviewed punishment given to those who are arrested for engaging in hard drug adding that, “at first when one is arrested for engaging in hard drugs, the same is arraigned before court and when found guilty, he or she is given at  least a-five year imprisonme but now, with the new law, people who are arrested for engaging in hard drug, they are taken to court and the judges together with doctors will have to examined whether  the fellow should be taken to a rehabilitation center.”

He therefore urged parents to guide their children against exposure to drugs to reduce drug use and abuse in the country.

source: MyJoyOnline