No fewer than 14.3 million Nigerians are addicted to drug abuse, Ondo State Deputy Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Yetunde Jeyifus,has said.
She disclosed this during enlightenment programme in Ile-Oluji to educate secondary school students on the menace of drug abuse.
Ojiefon Youth Council in Ile-Oluji, collaborated with The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),to organize the programmed.
She said that drug abuse is rampant in the society, especially among the youths, calling on all stakeholders in every community to join hands with authorities to curb the act of drug peddling and consumption.
According to her,many careers have been destroyed and lives cut short due to drug abuse.
She, therefore, said all hands must be on deck to fight the menace ravaging the social and economic growth of individuals indulging in the illicit act.
She lamented the high rate of youths involvement in illicit drug, revealing that many young people are currently in NDLEA rehabilitation facilities across the country due to drug abuse.
She warned the students that drugs are not food but chemical substances which have the ability to change the mind of users negatively.
She appreciated Oijefon Youth Council for partnering NDLEA to fight the menace called drug abuse in society, adding that it is important to speak to the younger people at the secondary school level to inform them on dangers involved in drug abuse so that they will not engage in it.
In his welcome address, President of Oijefon Youth Council, Engr. Adedokun Adeyonu,said the council organised the sensitization to promote sanity in the town and discourage drug abuse among the youth.
He observed that many people, especially the young, are involved in drug abuse, noting that the dangers of drug abuse are serious problems that hurt individuals, families, and entire society.
According to him, “drug abuse means using harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs in a way that harms your body and mind.
“Many people start using drugs out of curiosity, peer pressure, or to escape problems in their lives.
“They may think it’s fun or a quick way to feel better, but in reality, drugs ruin lives.
“The effects of drug abuse are very dangerous. For a person, it damages health, causing problems like heart disease, liver failure, and even brain damage, which could lead to mental problems, depression and anxiety.
“Families suffer as well because addiction causes fights, mistrust, and even financial problems. For society, the costs are huge. Money spent on healthcare, law enforcement, and lost jobs could have been used to build a better future.”
Engr. Adeyonu expressed worry over how many young people are falling into the act, due to peer pressure and movies or songs that glamorize drug use often push them.
He urged members of the society, the youth in particular to exert their energy in creativity and take time to build their lives for a glorious future.
Adeyonu added that the Ile Oluji youth will continue to create awareness to combat drug abuse and continue to educate people, especially young students, about the dangers of drugs, called on schools, parents to teach children about healthy ways to handle stress and challenges, urging parents to listen to their children and create a safe space for them to share their feelings.
