Help End Opioid Abuse, Ministry Urges Pharmacists
By STEPHEN FREEMAN
Help End Opioid Abuse, Ministry Urges Pharmacists
The Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr. Hafiz Adam, has called on pharmacists across the country to join the fight against opioid abuse in Ghana.
The country is currently witnessing a disturbing rise in opioid misuse, particularly among the youth, raising serious public health concerns. Addiction to the drug commonly referred to as “Red,” a street name often used for high-strength tramadol formulations, has become a growing crisis.
Recent studies have shown that tramadol misuse is widespread among various groups in Ghana. A survey among commercial drivers in the Accra metropolitan area revealed that about 25 percent admitted to abusing tramadol, with nearly half of them at high risk of dependence. Another study among university students found that one in five had used tramadol at least once, often alongside other substances.
Opioids, though primarily used for pain management, are highly addictive and dangerous when misused. Social media videos have further exposed the alarming situation, showing young people in distressed conditions after using these substances.
Speaking on the back of this worrying trend at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Ghana Chapter, held on October 31, 2025, in Accra, under the theme “Advancing Specialist Pharmacy Practice to Address Emerging Health Issues: A Call to Action,” Dr. Adam expressed deep concern about the increasing misuse of opioids such as tramadol.
He commended the WAPCP for advocating the establishment of a national framework to prevent opioid misuse and support rehabilitation efforts.
“We cannot ignore the growing trend of opioid abuse, particularly tramadol, and we are seeing these problematic patterns among our youth. I commend your call for a national framework for opioid misuse prevention and rehabilitation. Let pharmacists be champions of rational use, prevention, monitoring, counselling, and advocacy,” he said.
Dr. Adam also underscored the critical role of pharmacists in the country’s healthcare system, describing them as indispensable to its effective functioning.
“The role of pharmacists in Ghana’s health sector cannot be overlooked. You are the central nervous system of our health sector; in other words, you are our backbone. Without you, we cannot function,” he emphasised.
“We cannot ignore the growing trend of opioid abuse, particularly tramadol, and we are seeing these problematic patterns among our youth. I commend your call for a national framework for opioid misuse prevention and rehabilitation. Let pharmacists be champions of rational use, prevention, monitoring, counselling, and advocacy,” he said.
Dr. Adam also underscored the critical role of pharmacists in the country’s healthcare system, describing them as indispensable to its effective functioning.
“The role of pharmacists in Ghana’s health sector cannot be overlooked. You are the central nervous system of our health sector; in other words, you are our backbone. Without you, we cannot function,” he emphasised.
Dr.Hafiz Adam in the middle, flanked by members of WAPCP
