The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an initiative tagged ‘NAFDAC Catch Them Young Programme,’ to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students.
Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, launched the initiative at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
She said it is estimated that about 14.4 per cent or 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse.
Professor Adeyeye explained that the programme focuses on drug abuse education and awareness campaigns on the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria.
She further said drug abuse involves excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as alcohol, pain medications and illegal drugs.
Professor Adeyeye pointed that substances that youths and teens may use include those that are legal for adults, such as alcohol or tobacco since they are readily available.
While identifying the effects of drugs misuse among students, the NAFDAC DG also said the health consequences of drug abuse are drug addiction, serious impairment, illness and death, risk of damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys from long-term use.
On his part, the Principal of the Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada Abuja, Joseph Akoh, thanked NAFDAC for using the school for the flag-off, promising to that the school would ensure the objectives of the consumer safety club and campaign against drug abuse are achieved in the school.