Lorine Emenike.
The Rivers State branch of the National Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in partnership with National Association of Seadogs on Tuesday, at the Rivers state NDLEA Office in Port Harcourt, launched the “Campaign against Illicit Drug Abuse and Trafficking” to commemorate this year’s World anti-drug day, with the theme “LISTEN FIRST”.
In his address, the chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdalla, which was read by the state commander, Rivers State command NDLEA, Amb. Rachael Shelleng noted that Nigeria has been at the forefront of its commemoration because of the accrual benefits.
He stated that this year’s annual awareness day was founded to highlight the dangers of drug use and their illegal trade and provide educational materials to stakeholders all over the world to help amplify the message about the extreme cultural and economic harm the trade in drugs is causing across the globe.
He maintained that it is also to intensify their efforts at combating both drug demand and supply while improving access to treatment for addicts.
He said the theme for this year’s commemoration is “ LISTEN FIRST”: listening to children and youths is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe”.
He added that the repetition of the theme for three consecutive years is deliberate to ensure that the message crystallizes and resonate among the vulnerable population. He said it is also to emphasize that those whose responsibility it is to listen are doing so effectively.
Continuing, he said it is not acceptable that parents who have the primary responsibility of listening to their wards have rather resorted to blaming teachers, pastors, imams, law enforcement agencies and even their children’s peers for their drugs indulgence.
He argued that some parents are invariably too busy to listen but prefer to pursue careers and economic goals in the name of building a future for the same children that will grow to become drug dependent.
On his part, the Public Relation Officer of the state branch of NDLEA, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, said that as this year’s theme implies, “Listen First”, listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.
Mr. ogbumgbada said that drug abuse is referred to be the unguided use of drugs and also the taking of drugs without a medical prescription, adding that people can abuse drugs when prescribed drugs are taken in excess and also when individuals take legally prohibited drugs.
Continuing, he also said that this is a clarion call on parents and caregivers to watch over their children and wards so that they will be able to hear them out and direct them properly and guide them before those who are there to destroy them get hold of them.
Arguing further, Ogbumbada stated that ignorance is the major culprit to the problem of drug abuse and social vices; and so if individuals are exposed to the dangers and consequences of drug abuse, people will safeguard themselves from getting involved in drug abuse.
He also warned that excessive use of prescribed drugs or taking drugs without a prescription or the use of banned drugs and other substances are criminal offenses in Nigeria as well as other countries.
He said the abuse of drugs like codeine, tramadol, cocaine, marijuana, Indian hemp etc., have a serious effect on the central nervous system and is also the cause of so many cases of sudden deaths, and therefore advised drug abusers to desist from the act.
He used the medium to encourage youths and everybody to keep off from drug abuse as it is a destroyer.
“if we have people that are not of sane minds, it means the future is bleak for us; we need to get people that can effectively continue this country. We need youths with sound minds” he said in conclusion.
