In recent years, Tamale has witnessed a disturbing rise in the abuse of hard drugs among our youth. As someone who lives and works closely with this community, it pains me to see the future of our town—the young boys and girls with so much potential—being derailed by addiction and self-destruction.
The Rising Crisis
What started as whispers of “experimenting” has now become a visible epidemic. Young people—some barely in their teens—are openly consuming substances such as tramadol, marijuana, cocaine, and other synthetic drugs. These dangerous substances are not only illegal but also highly addictive and life-threatening.
The Effects of Hard Drugs
The consequences of drug abuse are devastating:
Health deterioration: Users suffer from mental health issues like depression, paranoia, and hallucinations. Physical health also deteriorates, often leading to permanent damage to the brain, liver, and other vital organs.
Academic and professional decline: Many students drop out of school, and young workers lose their jobs or perform poorly due to addiction. Dreams are abandoned and potential is wasted.
Increased crime: Drug addiction fuels theft, robbery, and violence, as users seek money to feed their habits. This puts the entire community at risk.
Broken families and relationships: The emotional toll of addiction creates rifts in families, leads to domestic violence, and isolates individuals from society.
Why We Must Fight Back
This is not just a personal issue—it’s a community emergency. If we do nothing, we risk losing an entire generation to drugs. But there is hope if we act together.
Here’s what we need to do:
- Raise awareness: Community leaders, schools, religious institutions, and media outlets must come together to educate the public, especially young people, about the dangers of hard drugs.
- Support rehabilitation: Let us advocate for the creation and funding of rehabilitation centers in the Northern Region to give addicts a chance to recover and reintegrate into society.
- Strengthen law enforcement: Authorities must crack down on the supply chain. Dealers and traffickers should be prosecuted without compromise.
- Promote positive engagement: We need to create safe spaces and programs that give youth an alternative path—through sports, tech training, arts, entrepreneurship, and mentorship.
- Parental and community responsibility: Parents must talk to their children, monitor their behavior, and lead by example. Community leaders must remain vigilant and proactive.
A Call to Action
I am making a personal appeal to all stakeholders—government, NGOs, businesses, religious leaders, teachers, and parents—to unite in this fight. Let us not sit back while our future is being destroyed one child at a time. We owe it to our children, our community, and ourselves to act now.
Together, we can build a Tamale where every young person is empowered, productive, and drug-free.
