Ghanaian youth cautioned against mixing food and drinks with marijuana

Ghanaian youth and students have been cautioned against consuming food and drinks mixed with drugs, with the Mental Health Authority warning that the practice could have serious consequences for their mental health and overall wellbeing.

Dr Amankwah Arthur, Deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Mental Health Authority, Ghana, said young people should not allow peer pressure, curiosity or the desire to achieve certain effects to lure them into consuming substances without considering the possible consequences.

He warned that such actions could result in serious health problems and potentially jeopardise their future.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr Amankwah Arthur explained that mixing drugs with food or drinks could expose students to unknown quantities of substances, making it difficult to determine how much of a drug had actually been consumed.

He said the effects could differ from one person to another, depending on the type of drug involved, the quantity consumed and the individual’s health condition.

According to the mental health expert, drug misuse could interfere with the normal functioning of the brain and contribute to poor concentration, confusion, anxiety, unusual behaviour and other mental health challenges.

He therefore urged students to avoid accepting food, drinks or other substances from people when they were uncertain about their contents.

Dr Amankwah Arthur also called on university authorities to strengthen measures to regulate the sale of food, drinks and other products on campuses.

He noted that reports of some toffees and drinks sold at certain tertiary institutions being mixed with substances should be treated seriously and subjected to immediate checks.

The mental health professional further advised students against taking medication prescribed for other people, stressing that medicines should only be used in accordance with instructions from qualified health professionals.

He encouraged students who were already using drugs or other substances to seek professional help rather than conceal the situation out of fear or embarrassment.

He stressed that seeking treatment early could help prevent substance misuse from developing into more serious mental health problems.

Dr Amankwah Arthur also urged parents and guardians to pay close attention to changes in their children’s behaviour and engage them in open and honest conversations about drug use, substance misuse and other antisocial practices.

He said teachers and school authorities also had an important role to play by educating students about the dangers of substance misuse and providing appropriate support to those facing related challenges.

Students, he added, should report suspected cases in which food or drinks had deliberately been mixed with drugs, stressing that such incidents should be taken seriously.

Dr Amankwah Arthur further urged students to remain focused on their education, maintain healthy lifestyles and avoid substances that could compromise 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 also called on the media to use their platforms to promote mental health awareness and prevention, saying greater public education was needed to protect the nation’s future leaders from mental health challenges.

GNA