A former president of the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA) has attributed the rising trend of drug abuse among the youth to a combination of technological exposure and a decline in effective parenting.
Dr. Collins Badu Agyemang, speaking on JoyNews, in reaction to the latest Hotline documentary “Deadly Doses”, argued that these societal shifts are creating a generation susceptible to behavioural addictions and substance misuse.
Dr. Agyemang acknowledged on Friday, August 29, that while technology and the internet offer numerous advantages, they also expose students to significant risks.
“The students are very much exposed, and that in itself introduces some risk in terms of their behaviour, in terms of some behavioural addictions,” he stated.
This unfiltered exposure, he suggested, is a major factor in the vulnerability of young people.
Furthermore, Dr. Agyemang criticised modern parenting, saying, “parents are no longer parenting.”
He contended that many parents have become solely focused on being financial providers, neglecting the emotional and psychological needs of their children.
This shift, he believes, is a critical problem that must be addressed to protect the youth.
The mental health expert also pointed to a lack of institutional capacity to deal with the problem. According to him, the resources and number of professionals available in counselling centres at tertiary institutions are “deplorable”.
He called on the government to take a more proactive role in equipping these agencies. “We must be intentional when it comes to moulding the minds and behaviour patterns,” he emphasised, stressing the need for a national commitment to providing the necessary support systems.
