NDLEA takes war against hard drugs to Anambra churches

NATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Anambra Command, in collaboration with Illicit Drug Abuse Education, has taken its awareness campaign on drug abuse to the churches around the state.

NDLEA took the event to Graceland Royal Assembly, Nkpor, Idemili North Council Area.

  The Principal Staff Officer, Drug Demand Reduction, NDLEA, Mrs. Chinwe Thompson, who enlightened  the congregation on the meaning, implications and consequences of drug abuse, said according to research, about 14.4% Nigerians use drug which she described as worrisome as only 5.5% use drug all over the world.

Thompson warned youths against excessive intake of socially accepted drugs such as alcohol, caffeinated beverages, tobacco, kolanut, cigarette, among others, stressing that other drugs used for medical treatment such as tramadol, cough syrup, heroine, cocaine, must be prescribed by a medical doctor.

On his part, the Chairman, Illicit Drug Abuse Education (IDEA), Chief Anene Onyiliegbe, regretted that most parents encourage their children in drug taking by sending them to buy such, especially the socially accepted drugs for them.

Onyiliegbe therefore called for collaborative effort of all in fighting drug abuse in the society, while charging parents to checkmate the activities of their wards and the kind of friends they keep as most youths are lured into illicit drug intake by their peer group.

In his reaction, the General Overseer, Graceland Royal Assembly, Nkpor, Apostle John Chukwunedum, noted that so many youths have gone astray due to illegal use of drugs and charged them to desist from drug while calling for fervent prayers for all the youths so  that they would not lose focus.