The Wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, has urged traditional leaders and other relevant stakeholders to join hands in the fight against drug abuse at the grassroots.
Speaking during a Town Hall Meeting at Nsit Ubium Local Government Area on Wednesday, the Akwa Ibom First lady noted that drug abuse is a multi-faceted crisis that affects families and the society at large.
She stressed that community and religious leaders as well as parents have a duty to address the problem.
“Drug abuse has a ripple effect on families. The emotional anguish experienced by family members witnessing their loved ones succumb to addiction is immeasurable. Relationships are strained, trust is eroded, and the well-being of children is endangered.
” It also increases crime rate in the society as victims resort to desperate measures to obtain drugs or to finance their addiction,” she said.
Mrs Eno therefore urged traditional and community leaders in the different local government areas of the state as well as parents to be vigilant and report all cases of drug abuse to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Also speaking at the meeting, the Secretary of the State Drug Control Committee, Mrs Esther Ukpe noted that drug abuse breaks families apart and hinders the progress and well-being of individuals who fall victim to the vice.
Also speaking, the Commander of NDLEA in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs.Obot Bassey, said drugs are chemical substances which when taken, changes the mood, behaviour, physiology and psychology of any person.
She reeled out the effects of drug abuse on individuals to include deception of the mind, cloudiness, dizziness, lack of appetite, poor concentration, emotional destabilization and reduced sexual urge.
According to her, consequences of drug abuse include strangling, bleeding, sleeplessness, impaired memory, slurred speech and impaired concentration, among several others.
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