What exactly is the Red 225 drug? Uses & Risks of This Poorly Regulated Opiod.
Until yesterday, many Ghanaians (myself included) have never heard of Red. It was only when Dr. George Anagli shared this video of several young men in dazed zombie like stance (a side-effect of Red) that I became aware of it. So I took it on myself to dig into the crevices of the ‘innanet’ for what this drug actually is and harm is wreaking on Ghana’s youth.
What it is.
Red 225 is a red variant of Tramadol of a higher dosage. Tramadol is an opiod which is used to treat moderate to moderately-severe pain in adults especially post-operative surgery. It is also prescribed for cancer patients and those with chronic pain.
Red has a round shape and it’s colour is bright-red hence the name. The 225mg dosage is written boldy across it it. When taken orally in higher than normal dosages, it sedates a person and creates a euphoric feeling similar to heroin.
Red 225 (Source KalyJay on X)
Side Effects
The side effects of Red include :
dizziness, nausea, vomitting, incoherence, anxiety, depression, breathing difficulties, seizures and last last death.
Tramadol is all over West Africa and being abused by many young people in schools and informal working sectors. Last year the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency seized 50,000 Tramadol pills which had gotten into Nigeria from Ghana. An online campaign by Kaly, #StopRed is currently trending on X to create awareness on the dangers of this drug.
Join the campaign and spread awareness on your various social platforms and you’d be saving a life closer to you than you might think.
