(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba Yilgak'ha, January 15, 2023; 08116181263; loisauba420@gmail.com)
Introduction
Let me make a quick disclaimer here, please. I'm not a drug expert but a mere public affairs commentator who has been a witness to the great damage DA has done to humanity and society including our relatives.
Each time Drug Abuse (DA) is mentioned, what comes to my mind are two of my Secondary school's mates (names withheld) who could not continue with the education because of DA and died in the process. It also reminds me of a friend, Anthony who stopped doing drugs while at SPS Keffi and is today doing well as an employee of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja. The first case is a bad news but the second, a good one while the best is when does not do drugs at all!
*Drug Abuse and Challenges*
Drug Abuse is the illegal consumption of unprescribed drugs for reasons which cannot be substantiated. It is a form of corruption which alters human sense of decency and normality in social conducts.
DA is one of the most daring social problems the world is battling today and it is ranked amongst social contradictions such as examination malpractice, prostitution, rape, cultism, etc. we are struggling with in our educational institutions and, by extension, the larger society.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) World Drug Report 2022 as cited by Akamadu Chucks (Conclaveng, January 14, 2023) indicated that 2010 and 2020, the statistics of drug abusers increased by 26% with the proportion of women in drugs in the minority though increasing rapidly too. The report also showed that, at least, 29.4 million Nigerians, between ages 15 and 64 years old are deeply engaged in drug abuse. The worrisome trend in DA has continued to skyrocket at all levels of society, particularly our local communities.
The implication is that DA has significantly increased the number of mentally derailed people and have also served as stimulant for crime and criminality in many societies. Infact, it has been established that DA is the catalyst for all the other social ills earlier mentioned including political thuggery, assassinations, Trans order crimes like trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, terrorism and insurgency Nigeria is profusely bleeding from today.
DA is not just a trigger for irresponsibility but a spell which has the potential for promoting mediocrity - the tendency to be haphazard and substandard. Mediocrity is the opposite of meritocracy!
Any society whose members are made up of mediocres cannot be stable productive and progressive. It will be coasting towards utter ruin, if not checked and halted!
*Causes of Drug Abuse*
The causes of drug abuse include but not limited to poor parenting; hypnosis; poor sense of judgement; peer pressure; false sense of courage, etc.. Generally, poor orientation at family, community and institutional levels could be causes this menace.
*Possible Solutions*
The possible remedy for drug abuse include raising the standard of parenting in families; avoiding bad friends; living by the word of God; prayers and counselling to counter diabolic and demonic influences; regular public awareness campaigns; education for critical thinking as well a well coordinated international synergy among neighbouring countries to share intellegence and lunch united action against drugs traffickers, cartels and consumers. These among other interventions could go a long way in mitigating the issues of drug abuse in Nigeria.
Always ask questions. Drugs kill. Say no to Drug Abuse. We can make Nigeria and our local communities drug abuse free and we will be glad doing just this.
*References*
Akamadu, C. (2023). Open letter to presidential candidates. https://www.theconclaveng.com/open-letter-to-presidential-candidates-by-chuks-akamadu/
No comments:
Post a Comment