Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 Source: Daily Observer, The (Gambia) Address: Gacem Road, Kanifing Industrial Area, P. M. B. 131, Banjul, The Gambia Copyright: 2012 Observer Company Ltd. Website: http://observer.gm/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5342 Author: Omar Wally OVER 13,000 MENTALLY ILL IN GAMBIA DUE TO CANNABIS USE Experts have disclosed that about 27, 000 people have mental disorder in The Gambia and that it is estimated that half of that number have been caused by the use of cannabis. This disclosure was made recently during a symposium on drug abuse situation in the Gambia organised by the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA). The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative at the forum, Dawda Samba, said mental health and advocacy programme describes illicit drugs as chemical substance that are taken without medical prescription and have the ability to harm the person's physical, mental, and social health. Samba disclosed that illicit drugs used in The Gambia are cannabis, heroine, cocaine, alcohol and diazepam (Blue Blue D5) etc. "A study revealed that about 27,000 people in The Gambia have mental disorder. It is estimated that half of this number (14,000) have mental illness caused by cannabis. Statistics from since 2009 have shown a steady increase caused by cannabis," he further disclosed. Also speaking at the event, the public relations officer of the NDEA, Superintendent Abdoulie Ceesay, informed the gathering that the most commonly abused and used drug in The Gambia and many countries in the sub-region is cannabis sativa."In The Gambia as far as analysis and assessment of cannabis consumption is concerned," he went on, "there is evidence that the youths are more involved." Superintendent Ceesay then explained the role of the NDEA, saying the anti-narcotics agency is an established security institution in The Gambia responsible for enforcing all drug laws and regulations inscribed in the Drug Control Act and any other subsequent amendment; regulating and controlling the in and outflow of both controlled and prohibited drugs; sensitising and educating the general public in particular the youths on the dangers of misusing drugs and give publicity to those dangers. The chairman of the NDEA Board, Dr Omar Jah, who doubles as a dean at the University of The Gambia, speaking from the religious point of view on the use of drugs, said Islam prohibits drug abuse. "Most of the drugs used are detrimental to our health and mental lives and drug abuse can lead to a lot of social problems," he stated. Jah, an erudite scholar further emphasised that the Islamic religion condems drug abuse given the fact that drug abuse including alcohol may lead to health problems, social problems, injuries, unprotected sex, violence and accident and even death or suicide. Dr. Jah also stressed that the growing menace of drug case is a cause for concern and that the society should help in that aspect. He suggested that the government "should also provide alternative to youths who are drug abusers or addicts to engage in productive venture that will make them focus." Reverend Allen of the Gambia Christian Council said Christianity equally forbids the use of drugs, stressing that the catastrophe caused by drugs cannot be overemphasised. "As far as Christianity is concerned, drugs kill the soul and the body of a human," he said. "The drug abuse situation in The Gambia is indeed a very complex one and the churches have a role to play in that regard," he stated, while calling for tighter legislation against drug barons and producers. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom