Neurosurgeon Warns Ghanaian Youth: E-Cigarettes Carry Hidden Brain Dangers

A senior neurosurgeon is sounding the alarm over the growing use of e-cigarettes among young Ghanaians, warning that the devices release toxic metals capable of causing lasting damage to developing brains. Dr Hadi Mohammed Abdullah delivered the stark warning during a discussion on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, urging parents, pregnant women and young people to treat e-cigarettes with the same caution they would any other form of smoking.

The hidden danger inside e-cigarettes

Dr Abdullah explained that whilst e-cigarettes do not carry all the harmful substances found in conventional cigarettes or shisha, they are far from safe. Research has identified the presence of metals including nickel, cadmium and lead in certain e-cigarette products — substances he described as acutely dangerous for anyone with a brain that is still maturing.

"When you have a developing brain that is exposed to lead, it is so dangerous. It damages the brain," he warned. He added that autopsies conducted on some children had revealed elevated concentrations of these metals in their bodies, which he linked to the materials used in the construction of e-cigarette devices.

The neurosurgeon acknowledged that the long-term effects of e-cigarette use are not yet fully understood, precisely because the technology is relatively new. "It will take a long time for us to really understand its dangers. It's going to take a lot of research," he said, adding that this uncertainty alone should serve as a reason for caution rather than complacency.

Pregnant women were specifically advised to keep away from e-cigarettes, shisha and all other forms of smoking to protect their unborn children from exposure to these substances during the critical stages of foetal brain development.

Why it matters for Ghana

E-cigarettes and vaping devices have been gaining visibility across Ghana, particularly in urban centres such as Accra and Kumasi, where they are increasingly marketed as a modern, cleaner alternative to traditional smoking. Social media has played a significant role in normalising their use among teenagers and young adults, with influencers and lifestyle content often presenting vaping as a harmless or even fashionable habit.

Dr Abdullah specifically cited the influence of social media as a driver of uptake among young people, raising concern that attractive branding and flavoured products are creating a false impression of safety. This mirrors trends seen across West Africa, where health regulators have struggled to keep pace with the rapid spread of vaping culture.

Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority has in recent years raised concerns about the regulation of e-cigarettes and similar products on the local market, but enforcement remains a challenge. With young people forming the core demographic of users, the neurosurgeon's warnings carry significant public health implications for the country.

Shisha is no safer — and asthmatics face extra risk

Beyond e-cigarettes, Dr Abdullah used the platform to dispel persistent myths surrounding shisha. Many users believe that filtering smoke through water removes its harmful properties, but the neurosurgeon firmly rejected this view. He explained that the water simply cools the smoke, making it easier to inhale in larger volumes — meaning users may actually absorb more of the harmful substances, not fewer.

The flavouring added to shisha products compounds the problem, he said, by giving the misleading impression that the product contains no tobacco and poses no risk. "That is what gives that wrong impression that this is not dangerous and it is not tobacco," he explained.

On the brain's response to nicotine, Dr Abdullah described how the substance is absorbed through the respiratory system and can reach the heart and brain within seconds of inhalation. It stimulates dopamine receptors — those associated with pleasure and reward — whilst simultaneously raising adrenaline levels, producing short-lived feelings of excitement that encourage repeated use and can rapidly lead to dependence.

People with asthma were given a particularly urgent warning. Dr Abdullah said there is documented evidence of asthmatic patients developing severe complications after using either shisha or e-cigarettes, with some requiring admission to intensive care units. He urged anyone with the condition to avoid both products entirely and encouraged those already dependent on shisha to seek professional medical help.