By Desmond Tinana

The Advocacy for Drug Rehabilitation has called for the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation centre in the Asogli State and the adoption of culturally responsive interventions to address the growing problem of substance abuse among young people in Ho and the Volta Region.

The call was made by the Volta Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Courage Ahorlu-Dzage, during a lecture at the Asogli Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Programme, where he described substance addiction as a complex public health challenge requiring urgent, coordinated and compassionate intervention.

Ahorlu-Dzage said substance abuse is becoming a growing concern in the Ho Municipality as data from the Ghana Health Service shows that in 2025, Ho recorded 206 mental health cases linked to substance use. This represents 22% of all such cases recorded in the Volta Region.

The situation, he said, has worsened in 2026. By the middle of the year, Ho had recorded 161 cases, making up 36.1% of the municipality’s mental health cases.

He added that Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the region, followed by other psychoactive drugs and cannabis. The figures show the need for stronger support and treatment for people affected by substance abuse in Ho. Mr Ahorlu-Dzage also raised concerns about the increasing availability of illicit drugs, particularly opioids such as Tramadol.

According to him, the growing illegal drug trade is being sustained by an available market, making substance abuse both a public health and community safety concern.

He warned that drug addiction could contribute to behaviours such as armed robbery, traffic violations and domestic violence, while also increasing the risk of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis.

Mr Ahorlu-Dzage stressed that addiction should not be treated simply as a moral failure or lack of discipline, but as a chronic condition that affects the brain and behaviour.

“Substance addiction is not merely a moral failing or lack of discipline; it is a complex, chronic disease that affects the brain and behaviour,” he said, urging communities to replace blame and shame with understanding, treatment and support.

He advocated rehabilitation as a critical pathway to recovery, explaining that structured rehabilitation could help affected persons stop substance use, regain control of their lives and successfully reintegrate into society. He emphasised that recovery was a lifelong process requiring continuous support, monitoring and encouragement.

Ahorlu-Dzage therefore appealed to corporate institutions, businesses, churches and other stakeholders to support the establishment of a rehabilitation facility in the Asogli State, noting that the Volta Region currently had no dedicated rehabilitation centre.

He said the absence of such a facility contributed to the high cost of rehabilitation services and created financial barriers for families seeking treatment for relatives affected by substance use disorders.

Meanwhile, Lead Advocate for Drug Rehabilitation Advocacy, Rev. Dr Charles Agede, shared his personal experience with substance abuse as part of the campaign to discourage young people from engaging in drug and alcohol use.

Rev. Dr Agede recounted how he once drank heavily, chain-smoked and used other substances without appearing intoxicated, unlike his friends who became seriously drunk after consuming a few drinks. He said his experience eventually changed after he took some pills in an attempt to feel high but later collapsed after drinking a bottle of beer.

He attributed his recovery to the intervention of God and a moment of personal reflection when, while preparing to begin another round of chain-smoking, he asked himself: “Why are you smoking?” He said the question marked the beginning of the end of his addiction.

However, Rev. Dr Agede said not all his friends were fortunate, as some lost their lives through substance abuse. His experience, he explained, motivated him to begin advocacy aimed at educating young people and engaging persons already affected by substance use in the municipality.

The advocates therefore called for stronger community education, culturally appropriate interventions, improved mental health services and sustained investment in rehabilitation to prevent substance abuse from undermining the future of young people in Ho and the wider Volta Region.