By Esenvosa Izah
Lagos – Two consultant psychiatrists on Wednesday decried the high rate of drug abuse among young adults in Nigeria, urging three tiers of governments to address it.
They spoke at a debate and talk on drug abuse organised by the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, for secondary school students in Lagos.
The programme was one of the activities lined up for the hospital’s 110th year anniversary which kicked off on Oct. 10.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Regan Secondary School, Yaba and Lagos City School, participated in the debate.
A Child Psychiatrist, Dr Oluwayemi Ogun, identified high availability of drugs in the communities and lack of knowledge on what to do by parents and teachers as factors contributing to the menace.
Ogun, who is also the Medical Director of the hospital, said that solution to the problem of drug abuse in adolescent would be more of sensitisation by psychiatrists.
“No place is safe from drugs in our communities; the drugs are sold almost everywhere and parents and teachers do not know what to do to curb the menace.
“Many youths in the country are aware of drugs, but the more we educate them on the consequences of abusing drugs, the more they get impacted.
“As a child psychiatrist, I know the number of parents who visit us and drop outs from the university; it is indeed a menace.
“It is high time we go out to campaign against this menace to prevent our young ones from breaking down, “ she said.
The medical director said that the hospital was ready to tackle mental health as it had the expertise to treat and manage mental disorders.
Ogun said that more mental health facilities were needed to tackle cases of drug abuse.
“Drug abuse is ravaging our youths and governments should do more to address the situation, “ she said.
Another child psychiatrist, Dr Grace Ijarogbe, said a 2013 study showed that about 22. 1 per cent of students in the private schools were known to be using psychoactive substances.
Ijarogbe, who works in the same hospital, said the study also revealed that children from public schools account for 15.3 per cent, making 37. 4 per cent of students known to use drugs.
“What is so worrisome about the study is that many of those who use drugs seem to be concentrated more in the private institutions than in the public ones.
“One would have expected that the private schools have more supervision. Private institutions should increase surveillance for their students so that they can help them,“ she said.
The expert called on the Federal Government to implement policies that would keep the adolescent safe from drugs.
Ijarogbe called for the implementation of the National Adolescent Health Act 1995.
“The policy provides for the adolescents, gives adequate nutrition, builds their capacity, helps them to stay away from crimes and compels parents to do certain things.
“But, many people are unaware of the policy and so there are no sanctions for those that erred,“ she said.
Two students who spoke with NAN urged the governments and other organisations to organise more seminars and workshops to enlighten youths on the consequences of drug abuse.
A Senior Secondary School (SSS) student from Regan Secondary School, Yaba, Precious Ugbaja, said that drug abuse was linked to mental illness.
“I have learnt that drug abuse have affected different people in various ways and also, personalities.
“It is linked to mental illness and it does not have to be hard drugs before it affects anyone; it could even be paracetamol or prescribed drugs, “ Ugbaja said.
Also, Faraz Balogun, a SSS student, Lagos City College, said that self-medication could lead to drug abuse, urging people to always visit the hospital whenever they were ill.
“Many of us are unaware of the dangers of self-medication because we are not enlightened enough.
“We need more programmes aimed at educating young people so that they will desist from abusing drugs, which can eventually lead to mental illness,“ he said. (NAN)
