- FDA concerned about rising shisha use among Ashanti Region students.
- Drug abuse on the rise among students, posing a significant threat.
- FDA and KIDA Network educate students on drug abuse dangers.
- Stronger collaboration sought to address drug abuse among students.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has expressed concern over the increasing trend of shisha usage among senior high school students in the Ashanti Region. The authority has observed that the abuse of other forms of drugs is also on the rise, posing a significant threat to the future of the young people involved.
Smoking shisha, which involves inhaling flavored tobacco through a water pipe, contains nicotine and can lead to addiction. Public health organizations, including the World Health Organization, warn that shisha smoking can be as harmful as smoking cigarettes.
To combat this trend, the FDA, in partnership with KIDA Network, has intensified sensitization efforts in senior high schools to educate students about the dangers and consequences of drug abuse. Regulatory Officer Prince Osei Owusu has called for stronger collaboration between the Ghana Education Service and the FDA to address the issue.
Owusu noted that students are abusing drugs, especially with the introduction of shisha, which is a modern way of introducing cigarettes into the system targeted at the youth. He emphasized that students need to be enlightened about the risks of drug abuse, and with this information, they can make informed decisions to desist from it.
Students who have been educated on the risks of drug abuse have committed to avoiding all forms of drug abuse. Group Coordinator for KIDA Network, Diya Williams, emphasized the need for more awareness creation on the consequences of drug abuse and addiction, and expects to create more awareness to educate not just the youth but the general public on the risks involved in drug abuse and drug addiction.
