Speaking to media during a mental health advocacy workshop organized by MindFreedom Ghana, Dr. Eugene Dordoye pointed out that common forms of screen addiction include social media and gambling.
He highlighted the challenges associated with these addictions, noting that individuals often perceive gambling as a means to make money or even view it as a form of work, overlooking the fact that it is essentially a game and not a legitimate financial endeavor.
Dr. Dordoye further highlighted the growing fascination of the youth with Forex trading, which is developing into an addictive behavior as participants aspire to make profits by investing in various trading platforms.
“Although all these activities fall under the category of gambling, young people engage in them in the belief that they can bring financial benefits. Unfortunately, it is one of the channels through which we are wasting the physical and mental potential of our new generation“, he emphasized.
He called for an increased focus on public awareness to address the consequences of screen addiction. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts to both treat and rehabilitate people already dealing with these conditions.
“While knowledge on these issues is available, our primary challenge lies in the political will and financial resources needed to translate these thoughts and ideas into concrete actions. Herein lies our most important obstacle“, he lamented.
Dr Dordoye also pointed to an alarming rise in drug addiction, which includes alcohol and substance abuse, with health workers and sickle cell patients abusing prescription drugs. He characterized this trend as a worrying development for public health.