NAFDAC Launches Campaign About The Dangers Of Drug Abuse

According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), it says that it has begun a sensitisation programme on the dangers that are associated with drug abuse in Kaduna State.

Mr. Nasiru Mato, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, mentioned this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna. He described the current state of drug abuse among youths nowadays as “worrisome”, also adding that NAFDAC had embarked on the sensitisation to address the menace.

“We started the sensitisation during a one-day event organised by the Kaduna Youth For Good Governance (KYGG). The exercise focused on creating awareness on the dangers of drug abuse, and wishes to continue sensitisation by engaging youths in other activities in the state.”

He also said that drug abuse among youths increases the risks that are related to their well-being and health which results in injury and death from interpersonal violence. Mr. Mato listed the risks to include road accidents, unprotected sexual behaviours, unintended pregnancy, diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and poor academic performances.

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He pointed out that youths who are addicted to substance abuse are at higher risk than nonusers which exposes them to mental health problems, including depression; conduct problems, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and suicide. Other health problems are seizures, stroke, mental confusion, brain damage, lung diseases, memory loss, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult.

Mr. Mato urged the youths to shun drug abuse to enable them to live a healthy live, adding that, “drug abuse is a monster and a potential silent killer.

“Drug abuse is a serious scourge on public health, thus it is counter-productive, and therefore needed joint effort to fight.’’

According to him, youths engage in drug abuse due to peer pressure, self medication and performance improvement. Mr. Mato also stressed the need for parents and guardians to monitor their wards for any strange behaviour change. This, he said, would facilitate early detection of signs of drug abuse such as dizziness, sleeplessness, anxiety, moral decadence, mood and emotional changes among others.

Sourced from NAN