Adorable Club Fights Against Drug Abuse

ADORABLE Social Club of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to give succour to the needy, disabled and orphans underscored the menace of drug abuse in society during the second phase of its Societal Awareness Campaign Against Drug Abuse last Sunday in Ikeja, Lagos.

The event was also used to hold the club’s end of the year get-together.

A follow-up to an earlier one held in Abuja, the event, with the theme, ‘Tackling the hydra-headed menace,’ was also used to unveil the programme, ‘ASACADA,’ which borders on use of different agents that can bring changes to organisations with adequate human and material resources to identify, rehabilitate and integrate affected people into society.

This was the preamble to the first ASACADA Queen, to emerge early next year, to drive the sensitisation programme among youths.

Founder of the club, Princess Ada Okeke-Amam, said the move to embark on drug awareness programme was borne out of her concern to stem the tide of drug abuse in society and rescue the youths, who are very vulnerable, if adequate care is not taken.

Okeke-Amam said a youth ambassador to drive the crusade in schools in Lagos State would emerge next April and called for all hands to be on deck in directing the focus of youths away from drug abuse, as it leads to bad behaviour and acts, such as killing and suicide.

Delivering a lecture at the event, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command representative, Suleman Aliu, while commending the organisation for standing up to the issue of drug abuse, noted that the programme was timely, because society is being devastated by drugs and at this a period of festivity, when the tendency of youths to abuse drugs is high.

Aliu said drug abuse is a global problem requiring collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers and commercial vehicle drivers coming together to tackle it.

He said: “The way to take drugs away from the street is by telling people to stay away from it and it will automatically cease.”

He identified drug abuse to include taking of drugs not medically necessary, banned drugs and socially accepted drugs in excess.

Aliu solicited information from the public on hideout of drug peddlers, assuring of protection of identity of informants.

He also urged family members to bring abusers of drugs to the agency to be attended to by its counselors.

Mother of the day, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwueke Onyedim, commended the organisation for partnering with NDLEA in the fight against drug abuse, noting that its intervention was necessary because the menace was getting out of hand.

Ven. Adegoke Agara thanked God for the vision of Okeke-Amam, saying her work gladdens the heart of God.

He said drug abuse should be addressed from the root by taking the campaign to primary and secondary schools.