NYA to construct rehabilitation centres to help rehabilitate tramadol abusers - CEO

The National Youth Authority (NYA) is set to establish rehabilitation centres to help provide help for persons who are addicted to Tramadol, the Chief Executive Mr Emmanuel Sin-Nyet Asigiri has announced.

According to him, the move will form part of NYAs contribution towards the campaign against Tramadol abuse.

He was addressing a media soiree yesterday (Friday) December 21, 2018 at the forecourt of the NYA at Kaneshie in Accra.

He commended the efforts by the media in raging a war against Tramadol abuse and has assured Ghanaians that his outfit will in 2019/intensify the campaign on the dangers of Tramadol and substance abuse and work towards establishing the centres to rehabilitate victims and also provide skills training for them.

Tramadol is usually prescribed to patients suffering moderate to severe pain.

Preparations containing Tramadol are classified as ‘prescription only medicines’ (POM) with the approved dosage strengths for use in Ghana by the FDA are 50mg and 100mg in tablets and capsules and 50mg/ml-2ml in injections.

Combining alcohol and Tramadol are central nervous system depressants, and all agents slow down brain activity and function which can lead to confusion, loss of consciousness, brain damage, respiratory depression, river disease, renal dysfunction, increase depression and suicidal tendencies, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has posited.

Other side effects include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling; constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; feeling nervous or anxious; or itching, sweating, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing; A slow heart rate or weak pulse; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; seizure (convulsions); infertility, missed menstrual periods; Impotence, sexual problems, and loss of interest in sex.