International Drug Day: Drug Abuse Responsible For Electoral Violence, School Dropouts - Experts.

Increase in Electoral and other violence in Nigeria has been attributed to high prevalence of drug abuse among the youths.

Discussants at a live interactive programme "Ebonyi Citizens Issues" of Radio Nigeria, Unity FM, made the observation on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

The event was organised by Development and Integrity Intervention Goals Foundation, DIG, a Civil Society Organisation, with support from the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, UNODC), under Drug Abuse Prevention Centre.

The Special session was DIG's contribution in commemoration of the 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

One of the key discussants, a Principal Clinical Psychologist with the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Eze Nsi Ude, lamented that over 80 percent of Nigerian youths today, were into drug and substance abuse.

He observed that there was a link between drug abuse, mental illnesses and abnornal behaviours which has continued to pose serious threat to society.

According to him, most politicians often take advantage of youths who use hard drugs to execute all forms of elctoral violence and other atrocities.

Ude, who also linked the high rate of school dropouts, HIV/AIDS and other serious health challenges among youths to effect of drug abuse, noted that drugs use results to economic crises.

Ude explained: "My experience in the hospital has shown that 80% of the youths today are into drug abuse particularly the methamphetamine, popularly known as 'Mkpurummiri'.

"They also abuse Tramadol, cocaine, marijuana, among others.

"These drugs affect their mental health, and also affect them academically.

"That is the reason why we have high rate of school dropouts from Universities and other institutions among the youths today."

Other discussants including the Director of Child Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ebonyi State, Mr Godwin Igwe and his counterpart, the Deputy Director and Head of Department, Sports Development in the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr.Kama Kay, observed that unemployment, poor family upbringing and peer pressure were reasons behind the prevalence of drug abuse.

Igwe who lamented that even children today have gotten involved in drug abuse, admonished parents to watch over the general life styles of their children and the kind of companies they keep.

"Children are more vulnerable to drug abuse because most of them watch their parents abuse certain substances such as Alcohol and take some of the illicit drugs: tobacco, cocaine etc .

"So doing, they expose their children to the substances early in life" Igwe observed.

Speaking on the topic of discussion "2023 General Elections: the need to ensure Drug Free Actions Among Youths in Ebonyi State", the Executive Director, DIG Foundation, Oliver Aja Chima, advised the youths to shun all politicians who lure them to drug abuse and violence, as activities towards 2022 general elections have commenced.

He further advised the youths to brace up to the challenges of taking over the leadership of the country by being focused, coordinated and avoiding all forms of drug abuse.

Chima added: "the level of anxiety and unemployment in our society today makes it easier for the youths to be lured into violence.

"The politicians will always gather them, capitalizing on the fact that they are unemployed and make fake promises, and also influence them with drugs.

And once they are induced with drugs, they easily get involved in election violence, acting under the influence of the drugs."

The commemoration activities organised by DIG, also incorporated Schools and community sensitization against drug abuse.

The team also distributed customized exercise books and other drug free campaign materials during the sensitisation.

The theme for 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking is "Addressing Drug Challenges In Health And Humanitarian Crisis."

The day is observed on June 26, annually.