The chairman of Okrika local government area Hon. Tammy Williams has called on the youths of the area to shun drug Abuse and other ungodly activities that would ruin their future but rather should imbibe the culture of engaging themselves in meaningful jobs that will give them honour in the society.
Hon. Williams gave the advise while declaring open the 2012 world day against drug at the multi purpose Hall, Okrika Council headquarters on Tuesday June 26, 2012.
The executive chairman who expressed worrisome feelings that Okrika was rated high as one of the local government that involved in the use of bad drugs urged them to distance themselves from such habits and emplored them to crusade against illicit use of drugs stressing that using drugs without doctor’s prescription is drug abuse.
The Okrika council boss who commended Barr. Chief Adokiye Amesimaka for being a worthy son who has made the people of Okrika proud noted that Chief Amesimaka as a law student in 1979 was representing Nigeria as a footballer and later become the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice in Rivers State and that the new stadium built by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the governor of Rivers State which was the biggest stadium in the state was name after him due to his determination and hard work.He charged the youths of Okrika to emulate the good qualities of Amiesimaka by saying that “If Amiesimaka can make it, I can make it as well”.
Hon. Williams said the Okrika council under his leadership was anxious to see how they can engage the youths to be useful to themselves stressing that his administration has begun to do things that would disengage youths from drug abuse and other bad habits such as create football pitches, and other recreational ground for sports, crusade against drug abuse, creation of drugs box that would highlight Okrika youths against drugs, ward to ward sport tournament, partnership with NAFDAC and other NGOs as well as involve youths to ensure that drug abuses is rid off in Okrika.
Earlier in his speech Chief Barr. Adokiye Amesimaka who chaired the occasion noted that taking drugs without proper prescription by a doctor was a bad habit stressing that such need to be prevented in the first place before it would be too late because when it becomes part of such a person it would be too late to leave.
Chief Amesimaka who described drug abuse as bad enumerated some sports personalities in the world including Nigerians who drugs had ruined their lives. He mentioned Diago, Maradona of Agentina, Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, among others and advised the youth of Okrika to avoid non-prescribed drugs.
Chief Amesimaka who congratulated Barr. Gladys Chibuzor, the Director of the Centre on the paper she presented against drug abuse urged her to make it available to youths, students in various schools, stressing that such would educate then and change their attitude on drugs for better.
He warned the public to stop taking drugs from nurses, road side chemists and enjoined them to always go to a qualified doctors and approved hospitals for prescribed drugs.
He further advised that if the government realized that smoking is injurious to health they should ban it and urged the youth to always take up any matter that was found wrong in their environments.
In her address Barr. Gladys Chibuzor the Director centre for advocacy who noted that the problem of drug abuse was a major issue and of great concern that needs to be addressed to all and sundry especially those who came about the well-being and proper development of human race noted that the most rapid death in terms of accident and malaria cannot be compared with that of drug abuse. She stressed that studies have shown that youths are the groups mostly at risk at drug problems whether in the trafficking or in the use of drugs pointing out that guardian Newspaper of 16th day of May 2012 page 28 stressed that between year 2000-2010 NDLEA reported that it has arrested 728 drugs suspects out of which 3, 226 were females offenders.
She described drug as any chemical substance when introduced into the body (either by injection, swallowing, chewing, snuffing inhaling and rubbing among others, changes the function and behaviour of the body and this can occur in physical and psychological or socials.
She described drug abuse as the use of drugs, a form of use which results in problems and identified substance abuse as alcohols, cannabis, stimulants depressants, narcotics among others. She said that the effect of drugs abuse among students includes frequent absenteeism, carelessness with school assignment, act of irresponsibility, fighting and cheating in class work etc and enjoined individual and all Nigerians to rise up to kick away the cankerworm called drug abuse.
In the same vein, a representative of NAFDAC Director Mrs. Gloria Williams who spoke on the effect of drug abuse, mental and health effect outlined various classes of drugs, such as he legal, illegal and social accepted drugs advising that people should have control in the way they use drugs to prevent it from affecting their health. ####
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
