The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed that 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse, describing the figure as alarming.
The agency warned that two-thirds of those who abuse drugs suffer severe consequences, urging Nigerians to shun the harmful practice.
Speaking at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, during the NAFDAC Catch Them Young initiative and the inauguration of the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) for secondary school students, the agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that the fight against drug abuse is crucial for Nigeria’s future.
Represented by NAFDAC’s Oyo State Coordinator, Pharm. Sam Adeyemi, Adeyeye called for collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen drug reduction programs, particularly targeting secondary schools.
He highlighted the dangers of drug abuse among students, including absenteeism, poor academic performance, and neglect of family responsibilities.
He stressed that every victim of drug abuse belongs to a family and a community, making collective action essential.
Adeyeye also urged teachers to play an active role in combating drug abuse by working closely with parents and guardians to curb the growing menace among young Nigerians.
“Teachers should not be judgemental but should create enabling environment for students to ask questions, teachers must emphasised that drug abuse is dangerous.”
He urged members of NAFDAC of NCSC to assist in information flow on NAFDAC regulatory activities and promote the fight against drug abuse, fake and counterfeit regulated products
“NAFDAC mission is to mould a future generations that is not only empowered to be upright but demand uprightness from others.
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“The NAFDAC Catch Them Young Programme is a comprehensive and coordinated intensive programme focused on secondary schools, designed to resudce prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students.
“This programme is not designed to scare anyone but to have honest conversation with you, which will help you to take informed decisions with regards to illicit drug use including alcohol consumption
“NCSC is one of the agency special public enlightenment strategies targeting the youths in the society in it’s effort to eradicate fake and substandard regulated products and enthrone a quality culture while employing the use of curting-edge technology to track counterfeit
“NAFDAC has taken the campaign against drug abuse to the grass route by reestablishing NCSC in secondary schools where we will in collaboration with the school teacher with junior and senior secondary schools students to catch them Young and prevent lives addition and destruction.”