Daily Trust

How parents can arrest drug use among their children

- Philemon Akwu from Utaku, Abuja wrote

The increasing prevalence of drug traffickin­g among youths in Nigeria should be a source of great concern to the citizens. While it is gratifying that the National Drug Law Enforcemen­t Agency, NDLEA, under the new leadership of Brig. Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has been working assiduousl­y to end the illicit drug scourge, Nigerians should be worried that 14.3 million of their compatriot­s are abusing drugs, with 10.6 million addicted to cannabis.

Given the severity of the situation, NDLEA’s appeal for all Nigerians to join in the fight against drug abuse should strike a chord with everyone because drug abuse has serious implicatio­ns for both the users and the larger society. Therefore, the clarion call should be taken seriously by every member of the society, especially parents.

The varieties of illicit substances in circulatio­n, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphet­amine, are not easily identified by many parents even when they stumbled on them. However, it will be in their best interest to know the telltale signs of substance abuse in their children or wards.

A teenager abusing illicit drugs may show a decline in academic performanc­e, frequently fail to attend classes, lose interest in school work and or display weakened motor coordinati­on. Other related signs are poor health and a lack of interest in old friendship­s.

Parents should also look out for the presence of drug parapherna­lia like foil, rolling paper, mirror, straw and blade

Zamfara and the Child’s Rights Act Your article on the non-passage of the the Act in Kano and Zamfara states refers.

For more than 17 years now our organizati­on, the Global Network for Islamic Justice, had voluntaril­y, analysed the ratified UN Convention of the Child Rights Act and made our observatio­ns and recommenda­tions on sections and clauses that are in conflict with Islamic and cultural teachings in order to suit our state as a standard for such internatio­nal documents in order to suit different nations ad people. in the room or in possession of their children. If they are diligent, they may also find actual drugs, seeds or leaves in ash-tray or their clothing. They should be conscious of the odour of drugs or incense and use of strong perfumes or strong menthol sweets to cloak the smell of narcotic drugs.

The role of parents in curtailing the possibilit­y of their children becoming addicted to hard drugs requires that they spend quality time with their family. Parents must discard the know-it-all attitude and give room for heart-to-heart discussion­s before decisions are taken or foisted on family members.

Above all, parents need to be good role models to their children. Studies have shown that children who see their parents consuming drugs,

If what was submitted was carefully looked into by now the law would have been enacted to suit our environmen­t.

It is, therefore, high time the matter was looked into in order to avoid unnecessar­y embarassme­nt.

Abba Dankande, 0806 601 ****

Bandits strike again on Kaduna-Abuja road

I am always taken by surprise anytime I heard that bandits have struck again on Kaduna-Abuja highway. Our military need to do something alcohol, and cigarettes are likely to end up doing the same.

Parents should also try to understand contempora­ry issues affecting young people. They should not hesitate to seek profession­al help from qualified counsellor­s if and when necessary. They must also know that highhanded­ness or harsh punitive measures would only harden the hearts of the young ones caught in the drug web. Instead, compassion is a better tact in handling such a situation. In the same vein, parents and the larger society should avoid the stigmatisa­tion of the addicts as this would only complicate the situation and further push the young user deeper into further acts of self-ruin. urgent about this situation. It is their responsibi­lity to ensure that the road is safe for the thousands of Nigerians who travel on it daily.

Iliyas Idris Fahad Suleja, 0806 260 ****

Advice to university students

The current strike by ASUU is an opportunit­y for our undergradu­ates affected to engage in skill acquisitio­n and business. After all, jobs are still difficult to come after graduation. This can be a starting point.

Mohammed Mohammed 0816 967 ****

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