By Emeka Nwokocha
In continuation of its project intervention on peace building to mitigate drug abuse in selected communities in Delta State, the Delta State Chapter of Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, on Thursday 29 September, 2022, held a sensitization campaign on drug abuse prevention at Ugborikoko community, Uvwie local government area of the state, calling on the youths to discard the harmful practice and channel their youthful energy to productive venture and contribute to the betterment of society.
Speaking to a mammoth crowd of the indigenes, and residents of Ugborikoko community, the Secretary of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of P4P, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, commended the Ugborikoko Development Management Committee (UDMC) for being a peace advocate, saying their unwavering stand for peace would deepen peaceful coexistence in the community and attract socioeconomic development at a large scale. He urged the enthusiastic crowd to listen attentively to the speakers to be able to grasp the content of the subject they would be talking about.
Speaking, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Adeosun Olabisi, noted that the burden of drug abuse was on the rise and has become a public health care concern in Nigeria. She lamented rising number of youths indulging in the act of abusing drugs, adding that the devastating effects are huge.
She simply defined drug abuse as the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used or in excessive amounts. She further identified the many forms of drug abuse and how it affects the body physically and psychologically, and advised youths to abstain from it.
She noted that the severity of drug problem has devastating impact on the youths, just as it affects and destroys young lives.
Adeosun called on parents to ensure their children mingle with good friends and also monitor all their activities.
Continuing, she charged parents to watch out for the warning signs of drug abuse such as, sudden change in attitude of their children, sudden mood swings, irritability, angry outbursts or paranoid with no reason, and engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviours. She advised youths to build a drug-free life, pursue their careers and become productive in the future.
Members of the Delta State Chapter of P4P present at the event were, Mr. Fred Nohwo, Jennifer Okotie, Coordinator, the Chapter, Mr. Chuks Odagwe, Secretary, of the Chapter, Mrs. Joy Egedegbe, Rita Ufuro, Neyin Tetsoma, Blessing Onojefegwono, and Tochukwu Chukwuemeka (Volunteer).
