Include herbal drugs in substance abuse discussions – Anti-drug advocate urges

Anti-drug abuse advocate, Mr. Kushtain Aburof Mustapa has emphasized the need to include unprescribed herbal drugs in broader discussions on drug abuse.

He argued that since herbal drugs are the precursors to pharmaceutical drugs, they should be a significant focus in drug abuse advocacy.

Mr. Mustapa made these remarks on the sidelines of a seminar organized by final-year students of the University of Ghana’s department of education, which focused on drug abuse and its effects on student development.

In an exclusive interview with Univers News, Mr. Mustapa emphasized that a lack of information and misinformation contribute to drug addiction among students. He then highlighted the potential harmful effects of using unprescribed herbal drugs.

“Discussions on drug abuse need to be broadened to include all kinds of drugs, including herbal drugs, which are the predecessors of synthetic drugs. We cannot limit drug advocacy to pharmaceutical, hard, or illegal drugs while ignoring herbal drugs. Herbal medicine is a category of drugs and should be used based on a prescription. The lack of information and miseducation leads many young people to rely on incorrect information.”

“The danger of herbal medicine is that careless use can lead to liver problems because people are taking herbs without knowing their origins. Women using herbal drugs for personal hygiene might end up with undiscovered illnesses.”

Mr. Mustapa also stated that peer pressure is a major cause of drug abuse and addiction, a fact supported by numerous studies. He pointed out that young people often lack the life skills needed to choose friends wisely, which can lead to negative experiences.

“Research and conferences show that peer pressure is a dominant cause of drug abuse. Young people have not been taught essential life skills, such as how to choose friends. They need to learn who is a friend, how to make friends, and whom to trust. Understanding these aspects will help young people make better choices.”