Commentary: The Need For A United Fight Against Drug Abuse

^{WRITTEN BY MMADUABUCHI EGBE}
Drug abuse is an indiscriminate and unauthorized use of drugs and tablets. Pundits see it as compulsive,

excessive and self-damaging use of habit forming drugs or substances. Drug abuse involves the illicit consumption of hard drugs and substances and consumption of drugs without medical advice.
Sadly, drug abuse has taken its toll on our society, and this affects mostly the young people between the ages of fifteen and thirty, not excluding some old people beyond the mentioned age range.
The rationale and motivation behind the illicit consumption of drugs vary with individuals involving in it. While some people indulge in drug abuse as an invigorating factor to garner excess energy to enable them execute somewhat herculean task, others engage in it to help them battle depression, obsession, paranoia and other psychological related issues. Some also deploy drug as arousal to enhance their sexual activities. Whatsoever the rationale behind drug abuse may be, it can never be justified.
Reports have it that drug abuse predisposes the people to some dreadful ailments such as damage to kidney, liver, heart, and psychological malady which includes; dysfunctional behavior pattern, hallucination, amnesia, or in some cases, untimely death.
In fact, the United Nations Office on drugs and crime, recently, revealed that over twenty-nine million people suffer from drug disorder. This goes to emphasize the adverse sociological effect of drug abuse. In Nigeria today, drugs such as Tramadol, Codeine, cannabis, among others, are constantly and blindly abused on daily basis. Hence, a concerted fight against this menace becomes increasingly compelling.
Though government has taken a giant stride towards combating this menace, through the institutionalization of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, more still need to be done in ensuring that this agency is effective.
More so, the scantiness of rehabilitation centers in many communities makes it arduous for people affected by drug-induced maladies to be cared and given proper attention. Thus, it behooves the government to ensure that NDLEA is in every nook and cranny of the nation and efforts must be made to provide adequate rehabilitation centers across the country.
Communities, on the other hand, have important roles to play by aiding the agency to fish out those areas where these harmful substances are merchandised, and also in reporting those affected by drug addiction to the appropriate authority for proper attention.
Parents and families, on their parts, have a part to play in putting their wards and relatives wise on the perils of drug abuse, and also ensure that their relations who are affected by drug- connected illnesses are taken to rehabilitation centers for adequate care and medication.
Young people should also realize that no amount of ‘highness’ will rid the world of its problems and consequently desist from the catastrophic acts of drug abuse. Let all hands be on deck, and together, we will rid the world of this cankerworm eating deep into its system.