Poor parenting, online influence behind youth drug abuse – Psychologist
A former president of the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA), Dr Collins Badu Agyemang, has attributed the alarming rise in drug abuse among the youth to excessive technological exposure and a decline in effective parenting.
Speaking to the media on the investigative documentary ‘Deadly Doses,’ Dr Agyemang argued that these societal changes are producing a generation vulnerable to behavioural addictions and substance misuse.
While acknowledging the benefits of technology and the internet, the mental health expert cautioned that the unregulated access many young people have to online spaces exposes them to harmful influences.
“The students are very much exposed, and that in itself introduces some risk in terms of their behaviour, in terms of some behavioural addictions,” he explained.
According to him, such exposure is not only fuelling drug use but also increasing tendencies toward risky behaviours.
Dr Agyemang also expressed concern about parenting practices, stressing that many parents today focus solely on financial provision at the expense of emotional and psychological guidance.
“Parents are no longer parenting,” he said.
Dr Agyemang noted that this neglect creates an environment where children turn to peers, social media or substances to fill the emotional void.
He described this trend as a critical problem that must be addressed urgently to safeguard the next generation.
His concerns echo findings from a recent nationwide study by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, which uncovered alarming levels of opioid and substance abuse among young people in tertiary institutions.
The Minister, George Opare Addo, disclosed that the survey, conducted across almost all tertiary campuses, revealed disturbing patterns of drug misuse that threaten both productivity and social stability.
He described the findings as “deeply worrying” and promised government action to tackle the crisis.
Dr Agyemang further criticised the weak institutional support systems available to address drug misuse in schools and communities. He said counselling centres at many tertiary institutions are under-resourced and poorly staffed, leaving students without the professional help they need.
“We must be intentional when it comes to moulding the minds and behaviour patterns,” he urged, calling for a national commitment to equipping agencies with the resources and expertise required to intervene effectively.
The mental health expert emphasised that reversing the tide of drug abuse will require a collaborative approach involving parents, schools, policymakers and health professionals.
He argued that strengthening family bonds, regulating young people’s exposure to technology and expanding counselling services must all form part of a long-term strategy.
Opioids such as tramadol, morphine and codeine, though medically useful for pain relief, are highly addictive when misused.
Their growing abuse, experts warn, has become not only a health issue but also a social one, with links to mental health problems, dependence and, in severe cases, overdoses.
