STAKEHOLDERS CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN BAYELSA

Comrade Iniwakunam Atim, Assistant Director News, of the State Broadcasting Corporation, in conjunction with Adiam-Eluan Research Centre has organized a one-day campaign against Drug Abuse at a private school in Imiringi Community in Ogbia Local Government Area.

Speaking at the event, Comrade Atim explained that the essence of the campaign was to highlight the adverse effect of drug abuse on the educational pursuit of students as well as galvanize students’ effort to channel their energies towards their educational advancement.

According to him, Studies have revealed that over two-point-six million young people, aged ten to twenty-four, die globally from substance abuse each year with high burden of drug abuse in students and called for collaborative effort to end menace.

Comrade Atim who is also a member of the State Grass Roots Mobilization Committee, said substance such as Marijuana, Cocaine, Tramadol are responsible for dull memory, cardiovascular diseases, brain damage as well as sudden death.

Comrade Atim also said some of these drugs contains carcinogens which are dangerous to human health and urged students to refrain from drug abuse.
He advised students to refrain from drug abuse and rather focus on their studies for them to be useful citizens, and urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and other law enforcement agents to beam their searchlight at the hinterland where drug abuse is on the increase.

Responding on behalf of the school, Mr. Emenike Emmanuel the Principal, commended Comrade Atim Iniwakunam for taking the campaign against drug abuse to the rural areas and urged Non-governmental Organizations to take a cue from him by targeting the campaign against drug abuse on young people who are mostly vulnerably.

Reported by Bright Okpo