Dr. Dennis Daliri, the only practising psychiatrist in the Upper East Region, has raised alarm over an escalating wave of substance abuse among adolescents and pregnant women, cautioning that the trend threatens both public health and societal stability.
Speaking in an interview with our Upper East Regional correspondent during Mental Health Month activities, Dr. Daliri disclosed that preliminary research by his department reveals a disturbing increase in the use of cannabis, alcohol, and other harmful substances among these vulnerable groups.
According to him, the rise is largely influenced by curiosity, the easy availability of drugs, and the growing normalisation of substance use in family environments.
“When young people grow up in environments where alcohol and marijuana use are treated as normal, they are far more likely to imitate that behaviour,” he said.
Dr. Daliri described the trend as “deeply troubling,” explaining that substance use has moved beyond casual recreational contexts and is now becoming more common among groups such as expectant mothers. This, he said, poses grave risks to unborn children and puts additional pressure on the region’s already limited psychiatric resources.
He emphasised that substance abuse should not be viewed merely as a personal failing, but as a larger societal issue requiring a unified response.
Dr. Daliri called on families, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to come together to combat the crisis. “We need to increase public education, tighten regulations on substance sales, and expand mental health services—especially in underserved regions like ours,” he urged.
He further appealed to community and traditional leaders to play a more active role in shaping cultural attitudes and providing leadership in discouraging substance use.
“Changing this narrative begins with awareness,” Dr. Daliri concluded. “We all have a role to play in reversing this dangerous trend and protecting the mental health of our future generations.”
