NACOB Issues Strong Warning to Those Selling and Using Unprescribed Drugs

The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) has launched a crackdown on pharmacists and individuals involved in the illegal sale and distribution of unprescribed drugs in Ghana.

This move is part of a broader initiative to combat the rising drug abuse problem among the country’s youth.

Recent reports from NACOB reveal that around 50,000 Ghanaians are engaged in drug abuse, with approximately 35,000 of these individuals being students aged between 12 and 35 years.

This alarming trend has raised concerns among health authorities and sparked calls for swift action to identify the root causes of substance abuse and implement effective solutions.

Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has called on religious leaders to play an active role in addressing the drug abuse crisis.

He emphasized the growing shift from traditional illicit drugs to the abuse of medications that are widely used for legitimate purposes.

“We are moving away from the traditional drugs that we all know, and people are going into medications that we all know are useful and are tinkering with them,” he said, urging religious leaders to help curb the issue.

As part of its efforts to combat the illegal drug trade, NACOB has issued a stern warning to anyone involved in selling and using unapproved medications.

In an interview with JoyNews, NACOB’s Deputy Director General, Twum Barima, cautioned individuals against engaging in illegal drug activities.

He stressed that anyone caught selling unprescribed drugs would face severe legal consequences, with no option for bail.

“Let’s do genuine trade, trade that is permitted by law. Don’t get yourself involved in something that if the law gets you, you will struggle to come out.

Because as the saying goes, the law is no respecter of persons,” he said, adding that even professionals such as doctors or lawyers would not be spared from the law.

Barima specifically warned against selling certain substances like Red 225 and Red 50, commonly abused by individuals.

He emphasized that those caught selling these drugs would face legal action and would not receive assistance from outside sources. “If we arrest you, you will face the law. The best advice anybody can give you is to refrain from it.

Those going for it, the best you can get from it is to destroy your own life,” he cautioned.

The crackdown by NACOB is part of a larger national effort to address the growing problem of drug abuse and ensure that public health and safety are maintained.