An alarming 40percent of Nigerian youths still engage in Illicit drug abuse, a recent report by the United Nation Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has confirmed.
The report obtained by the Advocacy for Positive Behavioral Patterns Initiative expressed worry over the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths which according to them is responsible for the increasing rate of crime in the society and high spate of suicide.
The Chairman of the Civil Society Organization Mann Bamidele disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during an awareness creation exercise for secondary school pupils on Drug Abuse- and violence among teenagers.
Mann who pointed out that the awareness creation was part of activities to celebrate the World Children’s Day celebration with the theme illicit drug abuse among teenagers and the challengers noted that the importance of the sensitization exercise was because of the prevalent rate of drug abuse amongst the youths.
He pointed the high rate of depression in the country leading to suicide saying most people fall into depression because of drug abuse adding that they have always encouraged the teenagers and youths that if they need to get high they should get high on grades, not on drugs.
Lamenting that the awareness level of drug abuse is low in the country, he said many youths have fallen into drug abuse due to the lack of understanding and they could be easily lured through peer pressure.
Mann disclosed they have been working with UNODC to sensitize the youths on the effect of drug abuse and the need for them not to fall into victim of being pressurize into the illicit act.
The Deputy Director Child Welfare Social Development Secretariat FCT bemoaned the high level of drug abuse in the society affirming that the usage among used could be as high has 40percent.
He said “Drug abuse among children has become a source of concern, aside the conventional drugs there are other things taken as drugs such as Solution for tyre, cough syrups among others.
Stressing the need to raise more awareness on the menace, he noted that aside government, parents, schools, friends all have roles to play in addressing the situation.
A Senior Resident Doctor with National Hospital Opeyem iOshodi said the effect of drug abuse is far reaching saying their is an high risk of mental illness and also limit productivity.
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