By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta – The Ogun Government in collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has inaugurated Drug-Free Clubs in 10 secondary schools in the state.
Mr Olufemi Fafiolu, Director, Pharmaceutical Department, Ministry of Health, disclosed this at the inauguration ceremony of the club at Rev. Kuti Memorial Grammar School, Isabo, Abeokuta.
Fafiolu said that the clubs would assist in curbing the menace of drug abuse among teenagers and forestall related juvenile delinquencies.
He said that the step became necessary to enlighten the students on the dangers inherent in drug abuse.
“It has been observed that drug abuse has been on the increase in the country, particularly among our students.
“We also noticed that the menace has deteriorated to primary school level,’’ he said.
Fafiolu urged parents to monitor their wards closely, saying that hard drugs were capable of causing brain damage.
He said that it could also cause Parkinson Disease, advising students to stay away from drugs not prescribed by medical personnel.
In her presentation, Mrs Eucharia Ekwu, the Principal Staff Officer, Department of Drug Demand Reduction Unit, NDLEA, said an average addict consumed about 30ml of drugs per day, which was the level of nicotine required to satisfy the craving of a smoker.
Eucharia highlighted some of the symptoms associated with drug addicts to include increased aggression, attitudinal change, depression, truancy, destitution, prostitution and criminal tendencies.
Other symptoms according to her include bruises, infection, disruption of normal brain functioning, heart and organ dysfunction and physical changes.
She warned that the treatment and rehabilitation of a drug addict had 50 per cent chance of success, depending on level of addiction.
The NDLEA boss advised parents to be wary of symptoms such as deficiency in blood, glazed eye, dilated or constricted pupils and weight changes, urging them to seek help when these were noticed.
