“Aside from drug abuse being a major influencing factor for all forms of crimes, youth’s involvement in drug abuse has brought about an unprecedented breakdown in society and family values.” SubstanceAbuse Nigeria
I have for a very long time lived with a notion that views drug abuse-related conversations as not just a familiar music hall act but a dangerous fiction erroneously directed to non drug abusers. But that belief fizzled out recently at the Social Centre, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos, after my participation in a symposium on combating drug abuse in Nigeria organised by the Justice Development and Peace Centre .
while stating that a drug is any substance other than food or water which when taken into the body affect the way the system functions, the speaker noted that drug consumption in amounts or methods not authorized by medical professionals have in the past led to mental disorder, disrupted the abuser’s education and future, poor attitude to work, health problems such as lung disease, heart disease and deaths among others.
In view of the above reality, we have all, like J.P Clark, a literary giant noted in his poem; ‘the casualty’, become casualties of drug-related abuses. However, despite these scary pictures, participants were unanimous in hope and agreed without any shadow of the doubt that winning the war against illicit drugs in the country is achievable.
Very regrettably, in abandoning this responsibility, one fact we fail to remember is that drug dependence is not based on a personal weakness or lack of morals on the part of the abuser but a chronic relapsing medical condition- a reality that in my opinion qualifies these people for our love and not vilification or abandonment.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nigeria finally signs AfCFTA | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsAfrica's most populous country and biggest economy, Nigeria, Sunday signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement(AfCFTA), a continent-wide pact.
Read more »
Nigeria waterfront real estate endangered, losing property values | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsFor many prospective home-owners, living in waterfront properties is a life-long dream because of the luxury and exotic views of the ocean.
Read more »
Makinde dissolves Oyo electoral body | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsThis is coming few days after the governor promised to reorganise the commission and conduct council polls before April 2020. Nigeria OyoState Makinde
Read more »
We will stand by you, Atiku tells Adeleke | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsA former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has assured the party’s candidate in last year’s Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke...
Read more »
Ariya Repete: New quarterfinalists emerge from Oyo, Ondo | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsAnother set of talented artistes has emerged as quarter-finalists from the Ibadan and Akure regional auditions of Ariya Repete 2019. The capital of Oyo and Ondo states came alive as it simultaneously hosted auditions on June 26.
Read more »