By Kemi Akintokun
Lagos – The Trauma Savers Life Support Foundation on Tuesday in Lagos launched: “Be the change club” an advocacy against drug abuse in Lagos State Secondary Schools.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Yinka Olaiya, the President of the foundation, said that there was the need for an aggressive drug education to curb drug abuse among the youth in the state.
According to Olaiya, the issue of drug abuse is on the rise in the country and can be tackled through a well coordinated effort.
“The social consequence of drug abuse is evident in Nigeria, a lot of our youths are into this menace that has affected their physical and psychological wellbeing.
“A lot of parents live in self denial and see some of these issues as a spiritual problem that emanated from their enemies.
“The way drugs is being celebrated in some music and movies should be a major concern to us because some of our children listen and watch some of this rubbish.
“If we dont do something, these children will be a waste and that is why we have come up with this club to educate secondary school students on the dangers of drug abuse.” she said.
The president said that the foundation had visited 80 schools in Lagos and would visit more.
She said that the four core agenda of the foundation are to enlighten, entice, empower and engage youths.
She tasked the government and donors to complement the effort of the foundation toward shaping the lives of children into becoming good citizens of the society.
Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of the Lagos State Governor , thanked the president of the foundation for her passion to impact positively on the lives of the young ones.
Sanwo-Olu sad that the rate of drug abuse in the county was worrisome, saying that government alone could not solve it.
“I am highly happy and grateful to Mrs Olaiya for identifying with this course that is ravaging the lives of our young ones.
“We need to create this awareness in different dimensions because this issue is becoming worrisome.
“A survey by the European Union (EU) and the National Bureau for Statiatics (NBS) shows that 17.3 million people in the country use drugs without prescriptions.
“We need to feed our children with the right and useful information, we must not get tired as parents and teachers to fight this evil, ” she said.
Also, Dr Rotimi Coker, a consultant psychologist who also spoke at the event said parents and teachers had a major role to play to curb drug menace.
” All medications are drugs but when you are addicted to any drugs it becomes an addiction and that is why parents should serve as good examples to their children.
“Parents should stop taking alcohol in front of their children because this is where some of the bad habits start in children, ” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a movie on drug abuse titled “Scourge” was premiered at the event.
(NAN)