Protecting Our Future: The Need for Collective Action Against Drug Abuse

As a concerned citizen of Nigeria, I feel so bad about the news I watch sometimes involving the abuse of drugs by the youth. According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State has the highest rate of drug abuse in Nigeria. This is based on the number of seizures, arrests of addicts, and convictions of arrested dealers, but I stay in Lagos, so I am going to talk more about drug abuse in Lagos.

Image generated on Freepik
The truth is, drug abuse in Lagos State is more crazy because it is not done in the daytime without much help coming from the authorities. People now freely sell marijuana in the streets of Lagos without fear of the authorities. It is safe to say that some of them get paid by this drug baron so they can carry out their activities smoothly. This is a problem that cannot be ignored any longer, as its consequences are far-reaching and detrimental to the future of our youth.

In recent years, there has been a worrying increase in drug abuse among young people in Lagos State. From marijuana and codeine to more dangerous substances like cocaine and heroin, I recently saw a video of some young boys mixing different drugs like codeine, syrup, capsule, and some drugs I know not of inside a bowl. It was so thick, and it gave a lilac color. After the mixture was done, it was poured into a barrel of drinks. I ask myself this question: "Was it worth it? To destroy your health all in the name of highness?"

Image from Freepik

The estate I stay in doesn't condone such acts, and if a young boy is caught doing drugs, the authority would be informed. Due to this fact, many people in my estate detest the use of hard drugs, but the truth remains that we can never get rid of them completely. It was a sad experience a month ago when a young boy in my community was acting up due to the consumption of hard drugs. Many people tried to get him back to normal by pouring a lot of water on him and hitting him so hard (I doubt he felt the pain). After a while, they let him be; he couldn't even walk properly. His elder brother came in shortly and drove him to the hospital.

As a community, we must come together to address this issue and provide support to those affected by drug abuse. Prevention is key, and educating our youth about the dangers of substance abuse is crucial. Schools, parents, and local organizations should work together to implement drug prevention programs and provide resources for those in need of help.

I believe more campaigns and raising awareness about the consequences of drug abuse should be done both on television, radio, in schools, and in religious settings. This will help in orientating the youth and also help them avoid the use of hard drugs. As I said, parents also need to educate their kids because with the first education they get, they will grow on, and the first education is very vital.

It is important we join hands to protect the future of our youth and create a safer, healthier environment for all.

Thanks for reading.

This is my entry for the #septemberinleo daily prompt. You can click on this Link for more information, there are so many amazing topics to talk about.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha