As part of activities to mark the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) organised a sensitisation campaign on Friday in Jos, for school children on the ills of the practice.
Speaking at Government Secondary School (GSS) Township stadium in Jos metropolis, Mrs Mary Izam, the chairperson of FIDA in Plateau said the event was to sensitive the students on its negative effect on their education and health.
“Please drug abuse is harmful to your health and education. Do not violate its actual prescription and only take the prescribed dosage given by certified medical personnel,” she told the students.
She said that the act leads to insanity, acts of violence, nefarious activities and destruction of a good future and that the students should report addicts to their school authority for proper counseling.
She said drug addicts were usually stubborn in school and fight with their school mates and at home adding that their eyes is usually red and love being in isolated locations.
The FIDA official explained that youths were fond of taking over dose of cough syrup ‘ you are required to take 5ml per day, so taking a bottle is drug abuse, “she said.
Izam explained that drug abuse was one of the major causes of sexual based violence and called for relevant agencies to arrest those selling unprescribed drugs to addicts saying it is a criminal offence.
Mr Dakup Toma, the principal of the school commended FIDA for the campaign saying it was timely as habits and lifestyle were mostly formed at the secondary school education level.
Francis Danladi, a form five student in the school, called on parents to be observant of their children’s behaviours and friends, so as to curtail drugs abuse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is celebrated annually on 26th June to educate the public on issues that concern drug abuse and mobilise political Will to address them.
This years’ theme is ‘Health for Justice, Justice for Health.
