NAFDAC CHIEF URGES YOUTHS TO SHUN DRUGS

Lagos - Chief Regulating Officer of the National Agency for Food and Drug
Adminis-tration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Ololade Alabi has advised
Nigerian youths to always shun drugs, drug abuse, misuse and other related
vices as a way of living a normal and healthy life.

Mrs Alabi who gave this advice yesterday at Gracewell Academy, Coker,
Iganmu, in Lagos during a forum organised by Prince Decson, a
non-governmental outfit, said that there was a close link between drug
abuse and armed robbery, stealing, prostitution and HIV/AIDS pandemic,
adding that people and youths who indulge in drug abuse are known to be
security risks and social misfits.

She attributed causes of drug abuse among youths to the influence of peer
group, availability of the drugs in the family and parental attitude to the
use of such drugs.

She mentioned three types of drugs: legal, illegal and societally accepted
drugs such as alcohol, cigarettes and kolanuts, pointing out that these
items are readily available at homes and can be abused by the children who
would want to give such drugs a trial, thus becoming dependent and addicted
to them.

She enjoined the youths not to embark on the use, misuse and abuse of
drugs, adding "as an achiever you must be mentally sound and healthy and as
such, no drugs can give you the desired pleasure."