The National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency has urged Communities to identify and expose those selling and circulating illicit drugs in their areas to reduce the burden of drug abuse in the society.

In a lecture during a programme organized by the Special Marshall Unit of the State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps at FRSC Headquarters Awka, the State Director of the Agency, Mr. Sule Momodu said the fight against illicit drugs should be a collective responsibility.

Mr. Momodu explained that illicit drugs stimulate or depress the central nervous system thereby influencing the perception, thinking and reasoning of the individual and can also destroy vital body organs including the brain, kidney and liver among others as well as result to madness and sudden death.

He said illicit drugs also have adverse effects on the reproductive system as they can cause infertility and deformity of unborn child.

Mr. Momodu made it clear that any Community that harbours circulation of illicit drugs will attract criminals and miscreants to their areas which would escalate insecurity including armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and other social vices that put communities under pressure.

The NDLEA Director urged parents to monitor their children and wards closely for signs of drug abuse, stressing that illicit drugs have multiplier effects on homes including wrecking marriages, derailing academic aspirations and low productivity in place of work.

He called for increased extracurricular activities in secondary schools to always keep students busy, pointing out that drugs have no permanent solution to any problem.

In his remarks, the State Coordinator of the Unit Barrister Ben Osaka lamented that children are being exposed and introduced to illicit drugs with dangerous consequences and urged the participants to use the knowledge gained in the discharge of their duties.

Some of the participants including the Parish Priest, Saint Mark’s Catholic Church Umueri Reverend Father Innocent Okongwu and Lady Vivian Obi of Anambra State Ministry of Information and Public
Enlightenment said the Lecture has equipped them with necessary knowledge to carry out enlightenment programmes on illicit drugs which they regretted have become serious challenge in the society today.