Tramadol and codeine abuse among Ghanaian youth in 2025-2026

Ghanaian youth aged 15 to 25, especially in Accra, Kumasi, and Tema, are abusing tramadol, codeine cough syrups, and marijuana at rising rates in 2025 and 2026, health officials report. What began as occasional recreational use has turned into daily dependence as young people mix prescription drugs with energy drinks to cope with unemployment, academic pressure, and peer influence. The trend escalated after the COVID-19 pandemic and is spreading through schools, lorry stations, and social gatherings, with dealers selling the drugs cheaply in unregulated packaging and via TikTok and WhatsApp. Experts say the rise is driven by idleness, mental stress, and the false belief that the drugs boost energy and confidence, while easy access through street hawkers and online vendors bypasses pharmacy regulations. Hospital data shows that the impact is growing. At Korle Bu Teaching Hospital's Psychiatric Unit, admissions for drug-induced psychosis among patients under 25 increased by over 40% between 2023 and 2025. In peri-urban communities like Gyaakye Amanfrom, assembly members now collect hundreds of empty codeine bottles and tramadol sachets during morning clean-ups near schools and football fields. "We used to find beer bottles. Now it's tramadol wrappers every single day," said Samuel Owusu. "These boys are 17, 18, and they can't sleep without it." Students say economic frustration is pushing them toward the drugs. "You finish SHS, and there's no job. Your friends use tramadol to 'feel strong' and hustle all night," said a 19-year-old from Tema who is seeking treatment. Dr. Angela Lartey, a psychiatrist at Pantang Hospital, warned that tramadol "feels like it gives control, but it destroys the brain and leads to aggression, memory loss, and addiction within months." She added, "We cannot arrest our way out of this. If a 20-year-old sees no future, no drug law will stop him from chasing the next high." The shift from alcohol and marijuana to pharmaceutical drugs began around 2018 with codeine syrups popularized on social media, and tramadol abuse spiked further after 2020 job losses. The Food and Drugs Authority has intensified enforcement operations since 2024, but regulations remain weakly enforced in markets and border towns. Community groups, chiefs, and NGOs are responding with peer education, sports programs, and counseling at CHPS compounds to address the crisis.