Drug abuse: NOA calls for collective effort to eradicate scourge

Drugs
By Edeki Igafe
Warri (Delta), May 10, 2018 (NAN) The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called for collective effort to eradicate drug abuse in the society.
The NOA Director in Delta, Mr Okoro Ivan, made the call on Thursday during a “Roundtable Discussion on Drug Abuse” in Warri.
The event was organised by NOA in conjunction with the Foundation for Development and Community Engagement (FDCE), to deliberate on ways to address the increasing drug abuse, particularly among youths.
He said that drug abuse was the platform on which all the social vices, including armed robbery, militancy, prostitution, arson and cultism among others bred with youths as the target.
The NOA boss, who noted that politicians used youths as cannon folders to achieve their aims during elections and urged youths to start thinking positively.
“The solution is that, our youths must wake from their slumber and start thinking positively. They must start to speak and do things rightly.
“They have their future and the future of this country, so they must start acting.
“All hands must be on deck, the security agency; health workers must put in extra effort to nip the menace.
“Also, organisations saddled with inculcating national values like integrity, hard work among others should raise the awareness for our youths to imbibe and practice of such values.
“Above all, the mindset of our youths must be transformed to change their attitude from bad to good,” he said.
Ivan identified peer group, lack of parental care, foreign bad culture and social media, health institution, leadership failure and quest to get rich as some of the causes of drug abuse.
Mr Samuel Campbell, Principal Staff Officers, (Drug Demand Reduction Department), National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said parents, teachers and the government have vital role to play to end the scourge.
Mrs Omiwade Olukemi, Supervisor, Health Education Nurse and Mr Yakubu Hassan, Pharmacist both of Chevron Nigeria Ltd, in their presentations noted that drug abuse went beyond taking hard substances like Tramadol, codeine and marijuana.
They called for more enlightenment campaign, counselling, empowerment and rehabilitation centres for the victims.
The FDCE Coordinator, Mr Robinson Ariyo, said a working document would be formulated at the end of the deliberation.
He also said that a committee would be set up to evaluate the strategy that would be used for effective advocacy, on the dangers inherent in drug abuse. (NAN)
EDI/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed