The alarming rate of drug addiction and other social vices in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State has compelled the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF) to rally stakeholders including the Bonny Local Government Council, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others to combat the menace.

Speaking at a One-Day Sensitization Lecture on Drug Abuse Prevention on Saturday, December 2, 2023 in Bonny, Rivers State, President of the BGF, Jude Pepple said it has become imperative to galvanize government officials, medical practitioners, law enforcement officials, among others to check mate the ugly trend.

In his remarks at the event, Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, Omoni Longjohn called on the students to see themselves as ambassadors of thee campaign against drug addiction and other social vices, urging them to take the message to their friends and families.

“You all are ambassadors of ‘Say No To Drugs’ and it means you represent and when you are a representative you go back and tell those you represent what you know about the dangers of drug abuse.”

“Tell your brothers, friends, colleagues that are not here; tell your mothers and fathers the dangers of drug abuse. So, you can go and say it anywhere, any day, any time.”

“You are now champions; those who will stand tomorrow to speak to younger ones about the danger of drug abuse.”

Assistant Area Commander of the NDLEA in Bonny LGA, Ayim Ogar took time to explain the different types of drugs being abused in the society, warning the participants against the use of hard drugs, insisting that the best option is to abstain from hard drugs.

“Drug is any substance either synthetic or natural, which if taken into the body, changes your body system completely.”

“There are certain drugs that are natural but any drug that have undergone some medical analysis or scientific processes is a synthetic drug, like tramadol. Anyone selling such drugs would not want to display it in the market.”

He enumerated some problems associated with drug abuse which are peer group pressure, family environment and experimentation, saying these are very common in the society, urging the students to report any incident of drug abuse to the authorities or their parents, seniors and other adults.

“The consequences are abnormality. Drug addicts cover 99% of criminality in our society like stealing, terrorism, rape, kidnapping and others. All these are being influenced by hard drugs which affect the brain. There is no advantage of anyone going into drugs.”

The NDLEA Area Commander NDLEA Bonny LGA stated that the agency is committed to making positive impact, encouraging the students to report any form of drug abuse to the authorities and also tell their fellow students about the negative impact of drugs abuse.

Earlier, delivering the lecture, Chief Medical Director of the St. Peter’s Clinic, Bonny, Dr. Peter Arome spoke extensively about the abuse of drugs, and warned the students against it.

“As students, what you can do is to give information to your superiors, especially, your teachers in school so they can be able to carry out some investigation and follow him up to confirm that drugs is his problem.

“Then they can now make recommendations to his parents and see how that person can be with drown from the regular school and take him to the place he can be rehabilitated.”

Also speaking, Publisher/CEO of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo charged the students against the use of hard drugs, encouraging them to imbibe the three GIs, good information, graven integrity and God’s intervention, to help them muster the moral strength to say no to drug abuse.

“For you, the issue of drugs is a No, No, and when we say a No, No, means it is something you don’t do at all whether it is written on the packet that ‘smokers are liable to die young’ or not. Whether they say this one is socially acceptable or the other one is illicit, it’s a No, No.”

One of the resource persons, Kingsley Nwafor, a medical doctor, also explained to the students the medical complications that arise from substance abuse, highlighting the need for them to stay away from drugs as it could lead to untimely death.

The programme, which was conceived as a result of the alarming increase of substance abuse and crime among the youth in Bonny LGA, had in attendance students from both the junior and senior sections of Government Girls Secondary School, Finima; Community Secondary School, Finima, among others.