June 17, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State and members of the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS Int’l) otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity, have expressed concern over the rising cases of death recorded f drug abuse and overdose in the state.
According to the NUJ and the NAS, despite the efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, available data showed that over 10 youths were recorded dead from drug overdose and five of them were below 20 years of age and were undergraduate of various higher institutions in the state.
Speaking at the public lecture/sensitization of the citizens of Bayelsa State on the menace of drug abuse among youths in the state and the way forward to mark the 2023 Feast of Barracuda (FoB) organised by the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association Of Seadogs (NAS Int’l), the Capon, Oxbow Marino Deck, Ebi Ayerite, urged youths to avoid illicit drugs and substance abuse. According to him, it affects both the old and the young as well as impedes social growth and development.
The Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Samuel Numonengi, also attributed the rising cases of armed robbery, cultism, rape and other vices to the intake of illicit drug abuse.
Earlier, the Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, NDLEA, Obebatein Okprubia Aduba, lamented that punishing victims of drug addiction has been difficult because it exposes them to more harm, injuries and other psychological effects.
According to her, sensitizations, enactment of laws by communities and their full enforcement, parental care and guidance, and non-patronage to sellers were among the key factors for reducing supplies, marketing and consumption of drugs, substance abuse and other illicit drug addiction.
Representative of the State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Faith Izibenua, reiterated that rehabilitation centres are open to admitting drug inmates to properly rehabilitate them including counselling, detoxification and empowerment before reintegration back into the society.
In her lecture titled “Drug Abuse: The Multiple Negative Effects,” the Chairman of the State Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT), Barr. Dise Goddy-Harry, warned that the negative effects of drug abuse have led to many youths languishing in jail for drug-related offences, dropping out of school, criminal records, being raped or gang raped at parties in case of females, loss of life as a result of drug overdose and mentally deranged.
Citing Sections 11(c), 14 and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Barr. Harry stated that the collaborator or any person who incite, induce, conspire, aid and abet or counsel others to commit any offence mentioned in these sections is liable for imprisonment for a term not less than 15 years and not exceeding 25 years.
