SAY_NO_TO_

DRUG_ABUSE

Oyo State Coordinator of Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitization(CYMS), Hon. Yusuf Adebayo Adams has campaigned against drug abuse and advised youths to shun the life -destructive activities called “drug abuse”, this is contained in a press statement issued today, Monday March 16, 2020 in Ibadan by the state coordinator of the association and made available to the press men.

The press statement reads thus; “

“SAY NO TO DRUG ABUSE”;

It is sad seeing some of our youths getting addicted to hard drugs, youth are said to be the leaders of tomorrow but social influence and environmental factor have turned them into something else.

Some are heavy India hemp smokers and as ambassadors for Committee of Youth On Mobilisation and Sensitization (CYMS), we shall continue to educate our youth about demerits of getting addicted to hard drugs .

Smoking or taking any form of hard drugs has no benefit , on the takers’ life, it shortens their life spans and we want use this medium to appeal to NAFDAC and NDLEA, our Imams and Pastors to continue to preach and wage war against “Drug Abuse” and all relevant stakeholders should not also relent to fight this menace to the finish and CYMS leadership are volunteering ourselves on mentoring and educating Youth to shun the monster call drug abuse and to lead a better life .

Due to the adverse effects of drug abuse, many of our youth are not medically fit today some are mentally derailed, some are physically deformed due to the excessive use of hard drugs like Refnol, Tramadol, India hemp called “Igbo”, Weed, Arizona, Colorado, Alcohol, Gas, Kerosene to the extent that some are sniffing Cocaine, Biogas from Soakaway and so on, all these are harmful and toxic, they are not body friendly.

It is good when our youth abstain from drugs as this will brighten the chances of our youth to become the leaders of not only tomorrow but that of today.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with one of the largest population of youth in the world, comprising 33,652,424 and this is a huge number that is equal to population of many countries of the world .

Drug abuse is a major problem all over the world, one of the most significant issues concerning drug abuse is the high risk for developing an addiction. The abuse of drugs can have serious ramifications on a person’s physical health, mental health, and overall well-beings as earlier said.

Over the past year alone, nearly about 15% of the adult population in Nigeria (around 14.3 Million people) reported a “considerable level” of use of psychoactive drug substances—it’s a rate much higher than the 2016 global average of 5.6% among adults.

The survey was led by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse with technical supports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the European Union , they discovered that highest level of drugs was used by people aged between 25 to 39, with Canabis being the most widely used drug. Sedatives, heroin, cocaine and the non-medical use of prescription opioids were also noted. The survey excluded the use of tobacoo and alcohol.

Estimated number of drug users in Nigeria

Cannabis =10.6M
Opioids= 4.6M
Cough syrups = 2.3M
Tranquilizers/sedatives=0.4M
Cocaine =0.09M
Heroin=0.08M

All these drugs endanger our youth’s lives, and It weakens immune system, increases the risk of illness and infection.

Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs

Nausea and abdominal pain which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss

Increased strain on the liver which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure

Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage

Lung disease , problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult

Global effects of drugs on the body such as breast development in men and increases in body temperature which can lead to other health problems

In conclusion, our Youth should disengage from taking hard drugs truly if they want to take charge as leaders of not only tomorrow but that of today ranging from all of us from CYMS, we are against drug abuse and we say “Capital NO” to Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction by our youth in Nigeria.

May our youth live long and may God continue to srengthen Nigeria and uplift Nigerians !!!

CYMS!

Yours-in-service-to-humanity,
Hon. Yusuf Adams Adebayo,
State Coordinator,
CYMS,
Oyo State Chapter,
(Adebayoadams30@gmail.com).
+2347031116755 .