Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Nigeria will join the rest of the world tomorrow to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The United Nations General Assembly on December 7, 1987, decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
Supported each year by individuals, communities and various organizations all over the world, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.
Here in Rivers State, the Association of Lady Pharmacists has called on Nigerians to stay aware of drug abuse and illicit substance.
The National Chairman of Lady Pharmacists Pharm VICTORIA UKWU during an awareness walk from Rumuokwuta to Rumuola in Port Harcourt said that drug abuse is the major cause of crime in the country.
Pharm VICTORIA UKWU stated that many lives have been lost due to drug abuse and called on the youths to shun the menace.
She noted that the awareness is to sensitize the public on the dangers of drug abuse and illicit substances.
The National Chairman of Association of Lady Pharmacists also listed depression, early deaths, anxiety, inability as the side effects of drug abuse on the body.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the Awareness Campaign Pharm OLUYEMISI KWALE said the Lady Pharmacists will take the campaign against drug abuse to secondary schools in Rivers State.
Pharm OLUYEMISI KWALE noted that Nigeria is on the brink of losing its future generation to drug abuse if the menace is not tackled at the grassroots.
She further said that drugs deny a lot of the youths the benefits of good living.
”We are concerned about the youth very much because we know that they are prone to attacks from society. They cannot make up their minds, they are easily influenced by friends and their peer groups. So we want them to know that drug is not the way to go. It is not good for them. It denies them the benefit of good living” she stated.
Our correspondent reports that the theme of this year’s celebration is Health for Justice, Justice for Health.
