APC Chieftain Warns Youth On Dangers Of Drug Abuse, Addiction

By Babatunde Kaka

A retired nurse and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Eredo Local Council Development Area, Mrs Oladunjoye Stella Odufisan has admonished youth in the community to desist from drug use.

She gave the admonition in an interview with Ekohotblog on the sideline of the celebration of 100 days in office by Poka Youths Development Association, Poka, Epe.

The veteran nurse commended the government’s efforts towards addressing the issue of drug use. She decried not only drug use but also smoking hemp, shisha and taking alcoholic substances which she described as capable of giving the youths mental illness and kidney problems.

She said ” I think presently, the youths can see what the government is propagating about use of drugs because most of these youths that are on drugs, it influences them to do so many things that are not the best for themselves, for the community and the society at large. If you see the rate people are coming down with kidney problems as a result of these hard drugs they take these days, one would be convinced that youths should not go near drugs in any form because of the side effects re more than the pleasure.

“Although it makes them feel high, it also makes them have a sense of belonging to their peer groups, but it is not the best for them as it is just for a matter of time, within few minutes, the effects wear off and they come back to their normal senses. Some of them even come down with mental illnesses to the extent that they need to be rehabilitated. Some of them are in psychiatric hospitals now undergoing treatment for the drugs they take “, she said.

Odufisan pinpointed factors such as inadequate orientation and peer pressure which provides a cover for their misdemeanours as being responsible for anti-social and unwholesome behaviours of the youths.

 

She bemoaned  the economic and social effects of the maladies on the community, she said the scourge of drug abuse and addiction had led many of the youth, particularly school dropouts, to sell off landed properties and houses inherited from their parents at give away costs.

“Lack of knowledge and peer influence are the major contributing factors because they believe they want to “belong” which is not, instead, it has adverse effects on their health and social status. Nobody wants to associate with drug users. Highly influential people hardly go about abusing drugs but most of our youths take it to cover up their foolishness. Most of these youths on drugs, I can say categorically, are dropouts who believes drugs use can cover up their carelessness, stupidity and failures.

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“The social effect on the community is suicidal, the economical impact of drug users makes them waste a lot of money. Some of them end up selling their property, even properties inherited from their parents, they tend to dispose them at any cost. Most family lands now are on sale because they want to belong and have what they want “, she averred.

 

She was however of the opinion that such a day was supposed to serve as a venue to encourage themselves as there are things they can learn from one another in terms of good habits rather than taking drugs, alcohol, smoking hemp and shisha at the slightest opportunity.