As Ghana records high alcohol consumption at district level, experts warn of productivity loss and a rising disease burden
The World Health Organization (WHO) says alcohol consumption kills 2.6 million people globally every year, accounting for 4.7 percent of all deaths worldwide.
According to the global health body, alcohol plays a causal role in more than 200 diseases, injuries and health disorders.
While the global figures are alarming, district-level data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) show that excessive alcohol consumption is notably high in Ghana, raising serious public health concerns.
Over the years, alcohol abuse has claimed many lives in the country and continues to drive up mortality rates while contributing to a surge in non-communicable diseases and declining productivity.
Health experts describe alcohol as a depressant drug that slows down the body, clouds judgment and weakens self-control.
Beyond the medical definition, addiction specialists say alcoholism operates like a thief in three stages.
First, it steals health, innocence and potential. Then, it kills ambitions, relationships and dignity as addiction takes hold. Finally, it destroys lives through chronic illnesses, injuries, violence and family breakdown.
Religious bodies in Ghana have also consistently warned about the negative effects of alcohol, citing its role in moral and social breakdown.
How Addiction Begins
Few people set out to become addicted, counsellors note. The path often begins quietly through family habits, genetics, stress, depression, peer pressure, curiosity or a culture that celebrates drinking.
Easy access to alcohol, even for minors, has worsened the trend.
Over time, what starts as occasional drinking creeps into mornings and workdays. Those affected begin to hide bottles, withdraw from loved ones, suffer blackouts, face financial problems and battle low moods.
Sharing her experience, a recovering addict, Faye, said: “My addiction built steadily, and before I realised it, I had become a morning as well as an afternoon drinker… I finally knew the terrible truth: I was hooked. I couldn’t quit.”
Recovery Is Possible
Despite the grim picture, health professionals insist that it is never too late to quit.
Recovery, they explain, begins with a sincere desire to stop, followed by detoxification, support from doctors, counsellors or trusted relatives, avoiding temptations, building new routines and staying committed through small victories.
Because withdrawal symptoms can be severe, experts caution that no one should face the process alone.
It is against this backdrop that Sprout Back Again Foundation LBG, a Tamale-based non-profit organisation with the motto “Growing Second Chances,” is stepping up its interventions.
The Foundation was founded and is led by its Executive Director, Mr Stephen Yarrow, a passionate advocate for drug abuse prevention and mental health support in Ghana.
Mr Yarrow has urged the general public, especially young people, to desist from excessive alcohol consumption, describing alcohol abuse as a serious threat to the future of young people.
Announcing a new campaign to promote drug abuse prevention and responsible living, Mr Yarrow revealed his personal experience with addiction.
According to him, he was once a victim of alcohol abuse and nearly lost his life.
“I was a victim, and I nearly died. That is why I understand what many young people are going through. This fight is personal to me,” Mr Yarrow said.
Mr Yarrow disclosed that, as part of the campaign, the Foundation would visit schools across the country to educate students on drug abuse prevention and the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
He described alcohol addiction as one of the most dangerous threats to human well-being and the future of young people.
He made a passionate appeal to District Assemblies to allocate a percentage of their Common Fund to support rehabilitation and sensitisation programmes for people struggling with addiction in various communities.
Mr Yarrow also called on the government to broaden its fight against drug abuse, noting that while much attention is focused on cocaine, many cocaine users start with alcohol.
“The government is only fighting against cocaine, but those who start using cocaine start with alcohol. If we stop alcohol abuse early, we can prevent many from going into hard drugs,” he stressed.
According to Mr Yarrow, the Foundation’s core interventions include:
- Supporting persons affected by addiction and their families to ensure that no one walks the road to recovery alone.
- Helping individuals rebuild their health, routines and sense of purpose after detoxification.
- Implementing its Drug Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programme, which includes community campaigns, peer educators, life skills training, parental engagement and a counselling helpline.
- Advocating stronger prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services at the national level.
Mr Yarrow notes that alcohol is often the first substance in a pattern of drug abuse. By reaching young people early, supporting families and offering a path to recovery for those already struggling, the Foundation aims to interrupt addiction before it takes everything.
The organisation says choosing sobriety means choosing life and is calling on individuals, churches and other organisations to open their doors to sensitisation programmes.
For support or partnership, contact:
Mr Stephen Yarrow
Founder and Executive Director
Sprout Back Again Foundation LBG (“Growing Second Chances”)
Gumo Road, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana
Tel: 0246278967
Email: contact@sproutbackagain.org
