A group, LG Rhythms Foundation in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have called for increased partnership to tackle the rising menace of drug abuse and addiction in communities to the barest minimum.
The call was made during the LG Rhythms Foundation 2024 Eko Akete Connect charity walk against drug abuse and addiction in Lagos, aimed at raising awareness and combating the pressing problem using a collective approach.
The General Secretary of LG Rhythms Foundation, Mr Adewunmi Akinfenwa, emphasised the alarming rate at which youths are yielding to drug abuse and addiction, while highlighting the influence of celebrities on youth’s behaviour.
He said there is a need to intensify collaborative effort to address this issue as the country cannot continue on this path of the value system eroding daily.
Akinfenwa stressed that while the issue may not be completely eradicated, collective approach can reduce the trend to the barest minimum, just as he advised that celebrities must embody the values that help train the youths, as they are seen as mirrors of society.
Also, a member of the Presidential Advisory Council of LG Rhythms Foundation, Elizabeth Obioma, emphasised the importance of increased awareness about prescription drug abuse, noting that the drugs are also being misused in large numbers aside hard drugs and illegal substances.
On her part, the Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics at the NDLEA Lagos Command, Fatola Lateefat, stressed the importance of collaboration to eradicate drug and substance abuse and addiction, which have now become a worrying global menace.
Lateefat underscored the urgency of addressing the issue through education, community engagement, sensitisation, advocacy and stringent enforcement of drug regulations.
She noted that a concerted effort from all sectors of the society is essential to protect the future of Nigerian youths from the destruction of drug addiction.
According to her, NDLEA alone cannot tackle it, which is why there is a need to create awareness, particularly in schools, by forming drug-free clubs and conducting preventive education.
On his part, the Executive Director of Stampout Drug Abuse Initiative, Oluwafemi Silas, called for stricter government regulations to curb the accessibility of illegal drugs.
He said the government must fund regulatory agencies and enforce laws to regulate the availability of drugs, especially to underage individuals.
He also called on parents to train their children rightly as the family is the first institution where children learn values.
