WATCH OUT: Latest Craze On Campuses

Students of tertiary institutions have been cautioned to be mindful of what they eat and drink with friends. Dr. Christian Amenuveve, Director of University of Ghana Health Services, said drug-related cases formed a chunk of health problems students report to the University of Ghana Hospital. He stated that some of the cases were through food eaten from friends. �There are instances when students diagnosed with the effect of such hard drugs said they had eaten cake, taken minerals or shito,� he told The Finder newspaper in a recent interview. �Such foods may appear harmless but they can contain dangerous chemicals and students must be careful when accepting such foods or drinks from friends,� he said. Dr. Amenuveve said students often appeared apprehensive and told medical officials that they had eaten the food outside campus, making it difficult to investigate or trace the source of such foods. Citing an instance when a first year student of the university recently died after an alleged drinking spree with friends, Dr. Amenuveve said drugs have devastating effects and advised students to stay away from such hard drugs. A few weeks ago, a Level 100 BSC Administration student of the University of Ghana, Kofi Nti-Boateng, died mysteriously at the Pentagon Hostel after having a drink with friends. Sources at the hostel told The Finder that on that day the group of young men were found drunk. The Finder has also established that there is a deadly but popular drink among students on campuses called �punch.� �Punch is not a brand of drink sold on the market. It is often prepared when �boys boys� meet for drink ups,� a student of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) told The Finder. He said punch �is a mixture of different drinks like �akpeteshie�, soft drinks and other beverages.Most of them also contain wee [marijuana], he explained.�T he wee is often soaked in water then the water is added to the drink,� the student said. He said first timers who took punch might have a dizzying and maddening effect, especially if they have not smoked marijuana before. Dr. Amenuveve cautioned students not to accept even soft drinks from friends they cannot trust.