The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, has called for gender-sensitive and community-driven interventions to address the rising menace of drug abuse among youths in the state.

While advocating for the measure, the institution’s recommendation was the focal point of an evidence-based research study titled “Gender Dimension of Drug Abuse among Secondary Schools in Ondo City, conducted by the institution’s Centre for Gender and Health Equity.

The findings were unveiled at a seminar held at the Oladipo Akinkugbe Hall, Laje Campus, UNIMED. The research was supported by the university’s Central Office for Research Development (CORD).

Presenting the research findings, Dr Modupe Adediyan disclosed that social media remains the primary source of information on drug abuse among adolescents.

Adeniyan emphasised the need to leverage the same platforms for awareness campaigns against substance misuse.

Speaking further, she listed the commonly abused substances as alcohol, Tramadol, cannabis, and codeine, among others, and that 77.2 per cent of the respondents were aware of the substances.

She said, “Males reported higher abuse rates and severity, correlating with social norms and greater freedom, while female use involves less potent substances, influenced by social relationships and survival tactics.”

The seminar, which featured stakeholders such as NDLEA, psychiatrists, counsellors, among others, also harped on strategic interventions like banning hard drugs, prohibiting drug sales, enforcing rules, and teacher accountability.

Speaking earlier at the seminar, the Director of the Centre for Gender and Health Equity, Prof. Augustinah Duyilemi, said, “There are differences in how male and female students experience addiction.

“Deploying gender-sensitive approaches to tackle adolescent substance abuse will make a huge impact. Drug abuse is a ticking time bomb which requires the whole community to address.”