More women in Nigeria are getting involved in drug abuse from mixed concoctions to momentary “forget their worries and problems” of living.
Also, unsuspecting members of the public, particularly those who eat from roadside eateries and make shift ‘bukateria’ are getting hooked on drugs without them knowing because some unscrupulous food vendors mix their delicacies with concoctions to induce addiction to their meals and boost sales.
The Assistant Director, Drug Demand Reduction Division (DDRD) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharm.(Mrs) Clara Anyanwu, who disclosed these trends to reporters at the weekend, identified “noodles” as one fast food such unscrupulous food sellers prepare with drugs and serve customers.
Mrs. Anyanwu said this informed why some people would by – pass many locations and go some distances away to patronise a particular food vendor, whereas there are other food sellers nearby.
She spoke shortly after delivering a talk – shop on ‘abnormal drug use: the modern vices militating against elevation (of youths) by God,’ at the 2018 National Youth Convention of the Fresh Anointing International Church, Km 58, Lagos – Abeokuta expressway, Akinale, Ogun State.
Anyanwu revealed that the degree of youth and women involvement in drugs abuse is “scary and serious,” hinting that the official “standard statistics” on drugs abuse in the country and demography of people affected, would be made known soon by the appropriate Federal Government ministry.
She said Nigerians should “stop living in denial” over drugs abuse, saying aside tramadol which was banned because of its abuse, people are “mixing things” unimaginable and consuming them to get high and as a escape from worries.
She lauded the church for initiating a programme where the youths were enlightened on the dangers, and identified, peers influence, ignorance, curiosity and wrong examples from parents as the factors driving drugs abuse in the country.
Over 2000 youths and children participated at the two day – long event, where an Operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) also enlightened the participants on the dangers of cyber crimes and the need to steer away from it lest they jeopardize their bright future.
The Church’s Bishop, Dr. Adegoke Itiola, said the church would continue to organise such programme to mould the youth to be on the right path so that they would be profitable to themselves, families, society and the nation.