Parents introduce kids to drugs

Pharmacy students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have accused parents of introducing their wards to illicit drugs and alcohol. The students, under the auspices of Anti-Drug Misuse and Abuse Program (ADMAP), said this when they visited secondary schools in Uselu, Edo State, to enlighten school children on the dangers of drug abuse. With the […]

Pharmacy students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have accused parents of introducing their wards to illicit drugs and alcohol.
The students, under the auspices of Anti-Drug Misuse and Abuse Program (ADMAP), said this when they visited secondary schools in Uselu, Edo State, to enlighten school children on the dangers of drug abuse.
With the theme “Save the young, save the afflicted and help the addicted”, ADMAP preached abstinence from narcotic substances to young students during the two-day campaign against mental illness. The group said in a statement that during the awareness campaigns, a number of school children accused their parents of introducing them to illicit substances. A student of AB Academic Centre, Benin City, said during the visit, “My dad sends me to buy alcohol for him and thereafter gives me some to sip; if you are saying alcohol could precipitate mental illness, do I stop drinking and buying alcohol for my dad?”
Chairman ADMAP, Isaac Ehimen, stated that students were under an obligation to obey their parents but should never accept any offer made by anyone to drink alcohol.
“Alcohol can lead to dependence and taking alcohol at this early age when the Central Nervous System (CNS) is still developing could lead to a very catastrophic event in future; hence run any errand your parents ask you to but never accept alcohol from anyone; it destroys.”
Speaking at Uselu Secondary School, he advised that since substances like marijuana, Indian hemp, and other forms of drug abuse could lead to mental illnesses, they should be avoided totally to avoid having any unwanted effect later in life.
“Don’t allow any friend to tempt you into trying anything for the first time, they may persuade you by telling all sort of sweet stories about the substance, never believe them as a lot of the mental illnesses are currently caused by addiction of some sort,” he told the students.
One ADMAP member, Ehidiamen Olobor, said they reached out to over a 1000 school children during the campaign exercise, adding that the target was feasible as the students reached would also pass the information across to others. Students were given gifts in each of the schools visited after an excellent performance in question and answer sessions.
At Eagles College Benin, the president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Student (PANS), Benjamin Idiakhoa, encouraged students to face their studies and never allow any form of peer pressure to derail them from fulfilling their goals, adding that “you are the first beneficiary of your success, your book can take you anywhere in the world but alcohol and smoking cannot.” In his remarks, the proprietor of Eagles College Benin expressed happiness with the campaign, saying the lectures delivered would greatly assist the students.
He told his students, “These persons (ADMA members) who spoke to you today were once like you, if they had indulged in smoking and taking alcohol, they wouldn’t have been here today so, just look at them and try to be like them.”
Efeobhokhan, 500 level Pharmacy UNIBEN.