On the occasion of World Drug Day, Labour Party’s Mr. Peter Obi, expressed deep concern over the recent report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria. The report revealed a distressing statistic: a staggering 14.4% of individuals aged between 15 and 64 are engaged in drug abuse, surpassing the global average of 5.6% by a significant margin.
Attributing this alarming trend to a multitude of interconnected factors, Obi placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of leadership failure within the country. Additionally, he highlighted the pervasive influence of poverty and frustration, the relentless pressure exerted by peer groups on the youth, and the skyrocketing rate of unemployment as crucial drivers propelling the widespread abuse of drugs and substances among young people.
In the wake of the World International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the former governor of Anambra State sheds light on the dire consequences stemming from drug abuse.
He emphasised the unimaginable health conditions that arise as a result, such as the rising issue of mental health disorders and alarming incidents of suicidal behavior among the youth.
In a statement shared on his verified Twitter handle, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for their relentless efforts in tackling the prevailing issue of drug abuse within the nation. However, he stressed the pressing need for the government to intensify its efforts in rescuing young individuals from plunging further into the grips of drug addiction.
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He stressed that additional measures must urgently be taken to safeguard youths and provide them with effective support in overcoming the challenges posed by drug abuse.
‘On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we are reminded of the lingering menace of drug abuse among our youths and the need to take consistent actions to defeat it.’
According to a report released by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, an alarming 14.4% of Nigerians aged between 15 and 64 years engage in drug abuse. This statistic stands in stark contrast to the global average of 5.6%.
‘The leadership failure in the country, high rate of poverty and frustration, peer-group pressure among the youths, high rate of unemployment etc, are some of the main factors fuelling drugs and substance abuse among the youths.’
‘The attendant health conditions that result from drug abuse are unimaginable. They include an epidemic of mental health cases and incidents of suicidal behaviour among youth. While we appreciate the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for their tireless efforts in combating the drug abuse menace in the country, more needs to be done by the government in rescuing the youths – our productive workforce from a further slide into drug addiction.’
To eradicate this societal ill, we must avoid stigmatising individuals grappling with drug addiction and implement preventive measures to protect others from falling into its deadly clutches. By adopting these strategies, we can gradually eliminate this harmful trend.
‘I have always maintained that the New Nigeria will be anchored on our youth population and productivity. We must ensure that our youths are free from all forms of drug abuse and trafficking in illicit substances,’ Obi added.
By implementing the proposed strategies put forth by the former governor, we have the possibility to make significant progress in addressing the growing issue of drug abuse.