Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 Source: Daily Independent (Nigeria) Website: http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/ Contact: Block5, Plot7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, Lagos Nigeria P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja Lagos Nigeria Copyright: 2010 Independent Newspapers Author: Victor Ebimomi TOWARDS A DRUG-FREE LAGOS Lagos State, like many others across the country has its own share of social deviants, who indulge in all sort of youthful recklessness. From Oshodi to Oyingbo, Iyana-Ipaja to Lekki, Ojota to Ikorodu and Mile 2 to Badagry, it is common to see youths whose past time is drug abuse. When they are not smoking their lives away with cannabis or other hard drugs, they are reveling in hard drinks, including the local stuff known as paraga. Worried by this ugly development, particularly with its dire consequences on the future of those involved, Inside Ajeromi, community newspaper, penultimate Sunday began a campaign to sensitise the youths in the state about the danger of drug abuse and the need to keep off the habit. Already the United Nations has set aside tomorrow June 26, 2010, as International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme; " Choose Health, Not Drug". The campaign, which was kick-started at Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), was attended by hundreds of youths who gathered at Memack Hall, at Adeponle Street, Amukoko, for a tutorial on the danger of drug abuse. And to add spice to the event thick, a top staffer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Jonah Achema was on hand to anchor the event. Achema did not only speak on the categorises of drugs as illicit, he also carefully enumerated the dangers therein for consumers. He specifically zeroed down his talk on cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana or Indian hemp, heroine, cocaine and hallucinogenic among others. According to him, these set of drugs are prohibited by law because they have the capability to go straight into brain and start dictating for the user, thereby giving him/ her false feeling of pleasure. According the stages in which a person can migrate to the world of drug abuser include: experimentation, occasional and craving, which he state is the worst stage. The narcotic expert therefore advised that the best way to stay off drug is not to experiment at all, stressing that; "once there is a contact that is the end". He noted that conditions that bring about drug abuse are; when not medically necessary; any drug prohibited by law and if any drug is taken outside prescription. On the implications, Achema stressed that since some of the drugs are depressant while others are stimulant, they have far reaching negative effects on the health, performance and social behavior that could lead to insanity even as he disclosed that "an average drug abuser is a criminal". He praised the organiser of the event and assured that the agency would always partner in such campaigns through its 'Drug Demand Reduction Department". "What we normally do is once there is a platform for us to come and discuss drugs, we don't hesitate to do it. Once we get invitation to come, we are duty bound to honour it", he said, adding that the agency has on several occasions taken drug campaign across a wide segment of the society. The workshop was interactive and it afforded participants opportunity to ask critical questions and seek clarifications just as they were shown the raw specimens of some hard drugs for identification so that in case they come across them, they could easily recognise them and resist any temptation for experimentation. "I gained a lot. Previously, I used to think that alcohol is good for the body, according to some scientific facts. But coming down here today, I learnt that alcohol, to an extent, is not good for the body. I also learnt about nicotine that is present in tobacco. This information, I will never forget them," Moses Ihiabe told Daily Independent. Also barring his mind, Timothy Anietie disclosed that event has completely changed has perception about the drugs generally. "I normally take coffee during examinations but coming to this place today, I have learnt that taking coffee has a side effect. I have made up my mind not to take it anymore and I hop share the messages with my friends" he stated. Miss Victoria Friday, also said: "I have gained a lot of things like abstaining from drugs. I will try and preach the message". A religious leader, Elder Patrick Ike of the Church of God Mission promised to sponsor the next edition saying that such programme could not have come at a better time. "I'm more than happy with what I saw here today, it is very nice. A forum like this will go a long way. I'm ready to sponsor the next edition. It is really encouraging" he said, advising that the campaign should be aired on television and taken to every nook and cranny of the society including places of worship. Publisher of the paper, Ndukwe Edward said the campaign train would not stop until it has gone round all the local governments in the state. He also stated that it would also hit the streets. "This is the first stage. The second seminar is coming soon. After that we will now go to the streets for a rally. Thereafter we will hit other local governments. Our target is the whole Lagos State", he said. On the motivation behind the project he said: "I am an environmentally conscious person. So drug abuse is not peculiar to Ajeromi- Ifelodun alone, same thing in Mushin, Shomolu et cetera and having known the consequences, we are determined that all these drug related crimes are reduced". - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart