Drug Abuse Attracts Lifelong Complications – Corps Members Sensitize Secondary School Students In Ogun

“Smoking, alcoholism and non-medical use of other commonly abused drugs such as tramadol, codeine, and refnol have dragged thousands ‎down to ill-health, misery, failure and lifelong complications, but have hardly helped one towards good health, genuine happiness and sustainable development. This explains why people who abstain from drug abuse are ahead of those who cool off on hard drugs.”

These were the words of corps members under the aegis of Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, N‎ational Youths Service Corps, Odeda local government area of Ogun State, while imploring scores of students of Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High, Abeokuta, Ogun State ‎to shun drug abuse, today. 

Urging the students to abstain from drug abuse and other immoral acts considered harmful by societal norms, the corps members, through Adebayo Olusegun and Taiwo Ifeoluwa, stated that continuous abuse of pharmaceutical substances could darken the students’ vision and weaken their mind.

“Just as the easiest way to stain a white cloth is to bring it in close contact with a colouring agent, so is contact with hard drugs, the easiest way to pollute the mind, distort reality and degrade the soul.”

“Have you ever paused to think about how water wear away the rock? It is simply through regular contact. The same applies to hard drugs and you. So, in order to enjoy life in abundance and sound health, shun drug abuse.”‎ they added.

Also, the corps members declared that drugs are generally pharmaceutical and chemical substances manufactured to cure, treat or prevent illnesses and that drug abuse results from illegal or non-medical use of the substance for purposes such as mood activation or body altering, particularly in large doses.

They frowned that, over time, drug abuse could lead to social, physical and psychological problems including: rape, child abuse, domestic violence, assaults, robbery, cancer, liver problems, kidney problems, ulcer, as well as addiction, dependence, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Speaking further during the second phase of the SDGs’ campaign themed: “War Against Drug Abuse”, Segun and Ifeoluwa implored the students to distance themselves from any forms of unholy peer influence or groups capable of ruining their dreams, saying: “Drug abuse is of no value. Responsible consumption and production is a necessity for a successful life and sustainable development.”

In his speech, comrade Afolabi Ismail, the SDGs pre‎sident, corroborated the first speakers and called on the school authorities to join the campaign against drug abuse so that misuse of drugs among students could be collectively tackled head on.