Drug abuse: NGO cautions commercial motorists

The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), an NGO, has advised commercial motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to refrain from taking hard drugs and other intoxicating substances because of their harmful effects.

The president of the NGO, Dr Hope Abraham, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Abraham said the organisation has launched advocacy against taking hard drugs, and counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts through sensitisation.

“Majority of auto-accidents today are caused by the influence of hard drugs and alcohol, especially by drunken drivers on our roads.

“One of our primary purposes is to help people get out of drugs and become useful to themselves and the society at large.

“We ensure drug addicts recover and one of our activities is to sensitise the public to the dangers of drug abuse.

“Several campaigns have been held in that regard and we do not intend to stop. Everybody needs to be aware that hard drugs are dangerous and have negative effects on their health,’’ Abraham said.

He commended the Federal Government for banning the importation, production and sale of codeine cough syrup and other harmful drugs in the country.

The VGADA president described the ban as “’a step in the right direction” towards stemming drug addiction among youths in the country.

“The abuse of codeine syrup by some Nigerian youths is becoming worrisome and it has negative impact on them.

“Some youths, who have been addicted to codeine, are always seen displaying symptoms of mental illness and hallucinations.

“I really commend government’s ban on the importation of the syrup so that our youths do not become addicted early in life,’’ he said.

According to him, VGADA will not relent in its efforts to ensure the society is free from drug abuse and drug peddlers.

Abraham however urged the Federal Government to look into banning tramadol tablets as it was cheap and easy to get, noting that the ban on codeine had reduced abuse among the youths. (NAN)