NAFDAC Boss encourages Youth against Drug, Substance Abuse.

Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye,  has appealed to youths to shun drugs and substance abuse by cultivating  positive attitudes towards enhancing  Nigeria’s development.

The DG’s advice was contained in a statement released by the agency’s media consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the NAFDAC’s director-general spoke during the maiden Annual National Security Summit in Abuja.

According to the statement, the DG  stated that the country’s future was dependent upon the nature and quality of youth that it produces.

She warned against illicit drug intake, stressing that it was a threat to mental health and national security.

The statement also indicated that children who grow under frustrating circumstances are likely to develop psychological problems and are susceptible to dangerous habits.

The statement further stated that any society that seeks to achieve adequate military security against the background of acute food shortages, population explosion, low level of productivity, and high rate of illiteracy has a false sense of security and is self-censored.

It disclosed that tackling the menace of national insecurity required a balanced approach touching on all aspects related to the complex relationship between lack of opportunities, drug abuse, mental health, and others.

It said lack of opportunities, inequality, poverty, and mental health conditions were known factors that could push people into drug use.

The DG in her statement warned against the non-medical use of prescription drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines and the use of amphetamines or new psychoactive substances with a combination of drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

It stated that the 2018 survey on drug use revealed that the highest level of drug users fell within the age groups of 25 and 39 years and regretted that the age bracket was the productive ages of any country.

It said cannabis was the most used drug, followed by opioids -which included tramadol and codeine adding that, 25 per cent of drug users were female approximately to 3.4 million of the population while 20 per cent of the drug users were dependents.