The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a new initiative aimed at curbing the growing menace of drug abuse among teenagers and youths in Nigeria.
The “Catch Them Young” programme, inaugurated at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, seeks to educate and empower secondary school students with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding drug use, including alcohol consumption.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, NAFDAC Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the urgent need to tackle the growing drug abuse epidemic.
Professor Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director of NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, Pharmacist Oligbu Chukwuma, highlighted alarming statistics that show 14.4% of Nigerians, equivalent to 14.3 million people, are victims of drug abuse.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as part of her mandate seeks to collaborate with stakeholders on Drug Reduction Demand programmes, such as drug abuse campaign to secondary schools to check the menace of drug abuse among young Nigerians,” Adeyeye said.
She noted that the programme focuses on honest conversations about the dangers of addiction, emphasizing prevention rather than fear.
According to Adeyeye, research findings show that one out of every four high-risk drug users have been arrested for drug-related offences, including possession, theft, sex work, burglary, and shoplifting.
The “Catch Them Young” programme is expected to reach secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones of the country. With this initiative, NAFDAC aims to tackle the growing menace of drug abuse among Nigerian youths, promoting a healthier and more productive future for the nation.
“”The NAFDAC Catch Them Young Programme is a comprehensive and Coordinated intensive programme focused on secondary schools, designed to
reduce the prevalence of drug abuse amongst secondary school students. Drug addiction can arise from both legal such as prescribed medicines and illicit drugs.
“This programme is not designed to scare anyone, but to have honest conversations with you. This will help you to take informed decisions with
regards to illicit drug use including alcohol consumption”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, NAFDAC State Coordinator, Rivers state, Pharmacist Onogwu Emmanuel provided insights into the project’s objectives and implementation, how the project was put in place and why the agency had decided to push their capacity building and sensitization programme down to secondary schools.
“This programme was flagged off by Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye on September 20, 2024, at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, FCT Abuja. It targets drug abuse education and awareness among the nation’s youth and teenagers, who are most affected by this menace”.
He noted that the pilot phase of the project in Rivers State would cover six schools, with two schools selected from each of the state’s three senatorial districts. Emmanuel emphasized that youths, as future leaders, must actively participate in preventing drug abuse to secure the country’s future.
“Your school, Government Girls Secondary School Rumuokwuta is one of the six schools selected in Rivers State for the commencement of this project. This project will be carried out in two Schools in each of the three Senatorial District in Rivers state and subsequently extended to other schools within the State
The youths are the Nations builders and future leaders. There is need for Youth Participation in the prevention of Drug Abuse whether individually or as a group.
The youth is a good driving force that could shape the drug abuse prevention initiative of the country”.
In her goodwill message, the principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Gladys Iheumamme, applauded NAFDAC’s initiative and appealed for sustained support to ensure the project achieves its purpose.
” Thanks for identifying with us and coming to inaugurate this club here I also want to plead with NAFDAC don’t just inaugurate the club and then leave us because sustainability is very very vital in any programme and stages of life there have been so many programmes that were inaugurated in the past but because of lack of resources to train and retrain the programme do not go far. I promise that as you are going to inaugurate this club today the school will work in synergy with you to ensure that the club becomes a success”.
NAFDAC Launches Anti-Drug Campaign To Tackle Youth Drug Abuse Menace is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
