As part of activities marking this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Supreme Education Foundation School has charged students and youths to shun drugs as they have dangerous effects on the body.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Olubukola Adewuyi, who gave this charge, noted that drug abuse has been a serious issue, not just in Lagos, but Nigeria at large.

She lamented that its deep effect has gradually gripped the youths, noting that early intervention and awareness will make the youths desist from it.

“The issue of addiction is bad, the youths can’t help themselves, so I don’t think punishment will stop them but creating awareness of consequences and the danger of drug abuse,” she said.

The guest speaker, Director of David Folaranmi Foundation, David Folaranmi, while giving his testimony of how he permanently came out from drugs, urged the youths to say no to drug abuse in all forms.

“They should also understand the need for key advocacy, they should also go to their peers, religious centres, and societies to tell others about the effect of drug use.

“Early education is key, there must be knowledge sharing, advocacy and awareness programmes, sensitisation campaigns and education from the family unit. Parents must first be the respondent when they find that there are changes in their child due to drug use, parents should be knowledgeable on what to do before it gets out of control,” he said.

A consultant psychiatrist, mental health advocate and chairperson of Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, said there should be measures put in place to eradicate the abuse of drugs.

She said there are some drugs that are legal and some that are illegal, adding that the legal drugs, which are addictive, should be prescribed by a doctor to a patient, while the patient must have the sense of responsibility of not using it more than the prescribed dosage.