The highly addictive painkiller tramadol is sold as a street drug. (Photo courtesy of Education Images/Universal Images Group, Getty Images)
a Tamale, the capital of Ghana's northern region, is experiencing a public health crisis due to increased misuse of the prescription opioid painkiller tramadol. Young people in particular are becoming addicted to drugs that release endorphins and block pain signals.
It is increasingly being sold as a street drug. Additionally, doses of tramadol sold on the street market are typically two to five times higher than standard prescription doses, increasing the potential for dependence.
Signs of large-scale use are clearly visible on the streets of Tamale, with people staring blankly into the distance and taking off their clothes without reason or warning.
“Tramadol misuse has been with us for some time,” said Eugene Dordoye, a psychiatrist at Ghana's Ho Teaching Hospital.
This problem is not unique to Ghana.United Nations Office on Drugs
According to the crime report, Africa “accounted for half of the amount of pharmaceutical opioids, particularly tramadol, seized worldwide between 2017 and 2021.”
Misuse of tramadol remains a relatively taboo topic, and experts warn that real problems will arise unless a more nuanced approach to curbing abuse is adopted.
Olumuyiwa Omonaie, co-author of a recently published study by Australia's Deakin University Institute for Health Transformation, said the effects of opioids are not well documented in Africa. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of misuse and guide the best interventions.
But there are clear signs of a serious problem. “Authorities have observed a significant spike in the illicit use of tramadol among young people in African countries in recent years, as evidenced by the significant quantities of this substance seized.”
Researchers participating in this study now argue that non-medical use of tramadol is a multifaceted problem with wide-ranging economic, social, and safety implications, and they aim to address this issue. calls for more targeted interventions.
This article was first published continentA weekly pan-African newspaper produced in partnership with . email and guardian . Designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp.Download your free copy here
