The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba, has expressed concern over the increasingly young age at which some people in Ghana begin using drugs, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the country’s youth.

He cited findings from a 2025 study by the University of Ghana School of Public Health, which revealed that 10 percent of people who use drugs started before the age of 15, while 54 percent began using drugs before turning 19.

Major General Obuba said the figures demonstrate the extent to which drug use, particularly opioid misuse, has spread within some communities and is exposing young people to its harmful consequences at an early age.

He made the remarks on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Kumasi during the celebration of International Youth Day.

He called for stronger preventive interventions, public education and support systems to address substance use among young people.

“Those figures should make us pause and think about how deeply opioid use and misuse have penetrated some of our communities,” he said.

According to him, prevention efforts must begin early to protect children and adolescents from developing substance use disorders.

He stressed that families, schools, communities and relevant state institutions must work together to educate young people about the dangers of drug use and provide appropriate support to those at risk.

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 percent of those who accessed treatment were between 20 and 44 years old, highlighting the significant impact of substance use on people within their productive years.

The NACOC Director-General said the statistics underscore the need for Ghana to adopt a comprehensive approach that combines enforcement with prevention, education, treatment and rehabilitation.

He maintained that such measures would be critical to addressing drug use effectively and protecting young people from the long-term consequences of substance abuse.