Pharmacist, Ebenezer Akowuah has expressed concern about the escalating misuse of birth control pills among teenagers, emphasizing the need for immediate attention to tackle the abuse.

According to him, many teenagers are abusing these contraceptives making reference to a particular pill that is advised to be taken three times a year but on the contrary, these teenagers recklessly consume all three doses in a single day, disregarding the associated side effects.

“This drug [name withheld] has its own side effects, but we have teenagers who take all three doses in one day without considering the consequences,” he explained.

He mentioned that some teenagers choose the aforementioned contraceptive pill that is ideally to be taken three times a year, because they have multiple partners, and are trying to eliminate any risks.

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Speaking on Adom Fm’s Burning Issues, he said, “teenagers between the ages of ten and sixteen are among those misusing contraceptives.”

The pharmacist also indicated that, other family planning alternatives are available which are more affordable and less harmful, and urged teenagers to rather opt for those methods.

“There are numerous drugs and methods available for family planning, but I am worried about how our teenagers are misusing certain drugs,” he stated.

He said several counseling efforts have proven futile and it gets more difficult as these contraceptives are readily available over the counter.

“Since these medicines are sold over the counter, there is little we can do to address the issue.”

“Some pharmacies are selling as many as 20, 30, or even 50 pieces of these contraceptives on a daily basis,” he revealed.

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He underscored the consequences of such misuse, as many of these teenagers later complain about irregular menstrual flow and changes in their menstrual cycle.

This alarming situation necessitates proactive measures to curb the practice and protect the well-being of teenagers.

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