The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an initiative aimed at curbing drug abuse among Nigeria’s youth.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the programme is focusing on educating secondary school students about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.
The DG stated this during the flag-off of the programme: “NAFDAC – Catch Them Young” at the Government Secondary School Zone 4 (Tunde Wada) on Friday in Abuja,
Represented by the SA-DG, NAFDAC Lagos, Dr Fajomirokun Gbenga, Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the urgency of the campaign, noting that approximately 14.4 per cent of Nigeria’s population, equating to 14.3 million people, is victims of drug abuse.
“The segment of the nation that is most affected is the youths, and by extension, our teenagers,” she said, adding that the campaign will also address issues like peer pressure, alcohol consumption, and the mental health consequences of drug abuse.
Research has shown that one in four high-risk drug users in Nigeria has been arrested for drug-related offences, with 73 per cent involved in possession and others engaging in crimes such as theft and sex work.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasised that the fight against drug abuse is critical to safeguarding the future of Nigerian Society, noting that NAFDAC’s efforts include public enlightenment through its Consumer Safety Club, which has been reintroduced in schools to involve students in spreading awareness about the dangers of both legal and illegal drug use.
The school principal, Mr Joseph Akoh, thanked the management of NAFDAC for choosing the school for the programme’s flag-off while expressing optimism that the students would have gained enough knowledge to become agents of change in society at the end of the programme.
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