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Ondo begins school campaign against drug abuse

By Kemi Olatunde

The sensitisation of Ondo State public school students on the dangers of drug abuse has commenced.

The team, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola, and the Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr Nanzing Davis Sallah, visited Akure High School to mark the beginning of the sensitisation exercise across some public schools in the state on Friday.

Ikuomola lamented the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the state, stating that young school children are most at risk.

Describing sensitisation as key to reducing the damaging scourge of abuse, he said that the state Ministry of Health is at the forefront of curbing the menace in society.

The Permanent Secretary explained that drugs are not dangerous in themselves, but when abused, they pose great danger. He identified marijuana, tramadol, monkey tail, and skushis as the most commonly abused substances in the state.

Speaking on the consequences, he said that drug abuse can lead to health challenges such as madness, stroke, depression, and even death.

While noting that the state government is committed to ridding the state of substance abuse, he urged the students to say no to drug abuse, highlighting its lifelong effects on their health, which, according to him, could prevent them from achieving their dreams of being successful in the future.

The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ondo State Command, Mr Nanzing Davis Sallah, in his presentation, appreciated the State Ministry of Health for being at the forefront of the war against drug abuse in the state.

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Speaking on the dangers of drug abuse, the Commandant stated that drug abuse is capable of destroying lives if students get involved, urging them to shun the act.

In her presentation, the Deputy Commandant of Narcotics, Drug Demand Reduction Unit (DDRU), Mrs Yetunde Jeyifous, revealed that, according to NDLEA records, about 40 per cent of Nigerian youths between 18 and 35 years are involved in drug abuse nationally, stressing the need to sensitise and educate school students on the dangers involved.

The Desk Officer for the State Drug Control Committee, Pharmacist Courage Oyeto, said the committee is committed to reducing the scourge of substance abuse in the state to the barest minimum.

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