LAGOS PROMISES TO CURB CULTISM, DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS
Read Time:2 Minute, 41 Second
Lagos will keep implementing measures to prevent drug addiction and cultism among young people, according to the Honorable Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende.
The Commissioner discussed “Ask Lagos,” a weekly X space program that looks at the plans and regulations of the State of Lagos government.
The “twin menace” of drug misuse and cultism, according to Ogunlende, are monsters that need to be dealt with forcefully because they impair the productivity of young people, who are the nation’s lifeblood.
In order to preserve their mental health, the Commissioner urged young people to learn the virtue of contentment. She also mentioned that young people should avoid unneeded pressure, maintain focus, and realize that life is not a race and that no two fingers are the same.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information & Strategy, refuted the idea that the lifestyle of those working in the entertainment industry promotes the use of illicit substances and pointed out that, contrary to popular belief, not all celebrities abuse drugs.
According to Omotoso, a number of well-known performers became famous without abusing drugs and were considered role models.
The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, also participated as a speaker on “Ask Lagos,” emphasizing that drug misuse is a global problem.
He claims that the NDLEA has consistently taken on the threat at the local, state, and federal levels. He underlined that everyone found guilty, including famous people, will have to face the law.
According to Babafemi, the NDLEA collaborates closely with the Guild of Actors of Nigeria and the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) to prevent substance usage in both their member base and the content they create.
The NDLEA spokesperson said, “The solution to the problem begins from the home, to the school to the religious centres. If you refuse to say something you might become a victim of a substance abuser on the street”.
He said that the NDLEA had arrested more than 52,000 people so far this year, seizing drugs totaling nearly eight million kg, and more than 9,000 of those people had been charged with crimes and received prison sentences.
He encouraged Lagosians to seek treatment and referrals from counselors, clinical psychologists, and other professionals who are available around-the-clock. He said the organization collaborates with private, state, and federal institutions, as well as NGO/religious facilities, to guarantee that people have access to the care they require.
During her guest appearance on the show, Dr. Tolu Ajomale, the Director of Mental Health Programs in Lagos State, outlined how a number of mental health issues, including biological, environmental, and socioeconomic ones, as well as trauma and displacement, might increase a person’s chance of developing a heroin addiction.
Additionally, he said that drug abusers are more likely to experience mental health issues.
The public was urged to write to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development or call the Lagos State Kicks Against Drug addiction (LASKADA) hotline at 07025002756 or 08097226696 for advice on drug addiction problems.
The nationwide network of NDLEA treatment and counseling centers can also be reached via the organization’s social media pages and the toll-free helpline 080010203040.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0