The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba, has raised concerns over the increasingly young age at which some people in Ghana begin using drugs.
He said a 2025 study by the University of Ghana School of Public Health found that 10 per cent of people who use drugs started before the age of 15, while 54 per cent began before turning 19.
Major General Obuba said the figures were worrying and reflected the extent to which drug use, particularly opioid misuse, had penetrated some communities and exposed young people to the harmful effects of substance abuse at an early age.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Kumasi during activities marking International Youth Day.
The NACOC Director-General called for stronger preventive measures, public education and support systems to address substance use among young people.
He stressed that prevention efforts must begin early enough to protect children and adolescents from developing substance use disorders.
According to him, families, schools, communities and relevant state institutions all have a critical role to play in educating young people about the dangers of drug use and ensuring that those at risk receive appropriate support.
Major General Obuba also disclosed that 1,179 people received treatment for substance use disorders in 2025 through 30 treatment centres across the country.
He said 88.5 per cent of those who received treatment were between 20 and 44 years old, underscoring the significant impact of substance use on people within their productive years.
The figures, he noted, demonstrate the need for Ghana to adopt a comprehensive approach to the drug-use challenge.
He called for enforcement measures to be complemented by prevention, public education, treatment and rehabilitation programmes to effectively address substance use and its impact on individuals, families and communities.
Major General Obuba said early intervention and coordinated efforts among stakeholders would be essential to protecting young people and reducing the long-term effects of substance use in Ghana.
