Tramadol abuse is fast gaining grounds in the various Senior High Schools within the Ashanti region of Ghana.
This was revealed by some of the students to Bernard Buachi of rawgist.com during an interaction on drug abuse in schools.
They hinted that there has been a significant shift from the use of Marijuana as the drug of choice to tramadol, known widely as “tramol”.
Whereas Marijuana use was mainly by the male population of these schools, our probe reveals that many female students are on Tramadol too.
They say it helps them overcome shyness and also perform at entertainment events. Aside that, the students also take Tramadol for sexual stamina.
They observe however that those who use the drug sleep through class and misbehave towards authorities.
Our student sources explain that users dissolve the tablets in drinks (mostly energy drinks). “Sometimes they would add 10 pills to one bottle of energy drink and share among two or three people who will finish it all at a go” one female student recounted and explained that once ingested, the students become less sensitive to their environment and hence a shy student can go naked on the dance floor during entertainment as the rest of the students cheer her on. “They don’t seem to see you even when you are talking to them”.
They also explain that in the absence of energy drinks, the tablets are swallowed.
They are worried the story is commonplace in most of the Senior High Schools and were amused at this reporter’s shock and nativity about the development.
They are also convinced the use of the drug is causing a dip in academic performance amongst users but shied away from stepping forward to report it.
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