From Moshood Karim
The chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa on Friday urged Nigerian youths to shun the use of illegal substances and drug abuse.
Marwa spoke at a conference on Friday in Benin City, the Edo State capital which was aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the need for peace in the community, themed: “The Consequence of Drug and Substance Abuse” organized by the Faculty of Peace Organisation in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Health.
During the conference, Marwa who was represented by Dr. Adamu Abiodun, Coordinator Patrol Edo Zonal command cautioned about the consequences of the illegal use of substances. He emphasized the need for everyone to be vigilant and report any illegal drug activity to the appropriate authorities.
He also spoke about the importance of educating young people on the dangers of drug abuse and the need to stay away from illegal substances while calling on politicians across the country to desist from making drugs available to youths to use them for their political goals.
According to him: “Politicians should stop buying drugs for the youths whom they use to achieve their electoral ambition. These are used as thugs to disrupt election exercise.”
Marwa further highlighted the efforts of the NDLEA in tackling drug abuse in the country. He mentioned that the agency had recorded significant successes in recent times, including the arrest of drug traffickers and the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs. He further encouraged the public to support the NDLEA in its efforts to rid the country of drug abuse.
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye while explaining the concept of drug abuse, urged participants to avoid self-medication which could result in addiction.
He said: “Drug addiction is not just about heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol, nicotine, sleep, anti-anxiety medications and other legal substances. Do not forget that you can also get addicted to prescriptions or pain medications.
“At first, you may choose to take a drug because you like how it makes you feel. You may think you can control how much and how often you use it. But overtime, drugs change how your brain works. Excessive use of drugs can lead to not only drug abuse but also substance abuse. Drug abuse is metaphorically the junior brother of substance abuse. ”
He said drug abuse can lead to drugged driving, violence, cultism, child abuse, and thuggery among others. He recommended healthy friendships and relationships and avoiding friends or family members who pressure one to use substances as ways to prevent drug abuse.
He revealed that the Nigeria Police has set up a Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) to help address the consequences of drug abuse among the youths.
President and Founder of the Faculty of Peace Organisation, Omokaro Osunbor linked the rise in drug abuse among Nigerian youths to a quest for happiness. He said the majority of the youths want happiness, they want to “feel high.”
He, however, said that lasting happiness cannot be achieved by using drugs but by setting positive goals and achieving them.
There was an interactive session where the participants discussed various issues related to drug abuse and its impact on society. They also shared their experiences and best practices in tackling drug abuse in their respective communities.
The conference was attended by various stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations.
One of the participants at the conference, Okoduwa Josephine told Uptown Press in an interview that, the conference was a timely intervention, given the rising cases of drug abuse in the country.
Many young people, she added, have fallen victim to drug abuse, which has resulted in various health and social issues.
