The Ondo State government, has raised the alarm that the mental illness caused by the abuse of drugs among youths in the state has overwhelmed the state Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.
Dr. Banji Ajaka, the state health commissioner, said this on Thursday during a walk to educate the people about drug abuse.
Ajaka, who bemoaned the prevalence of drug abuse in the country, said: “A reasonable number of people, especially youths, have embraced the act.
“Abusers of drugs take substances including Colorado, drink mix with scrunchies, faeces as well as sniffing of burnt plastic containers.”
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, noted that the government has put in place measures to guard against drug abuse.
Faduyile said: “The state government is guiding against the availability of drugs and also ensuring that those on these drugs are adequately rehabilitated.”
On his part, the state Deputy Commander, Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Yetunde Jeyifous, lamented the extent of drug abuse mostly by youths.
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Speaking to some motorists in Akure’s well-known Oja Oba market, Gbenga Lasekan, Director of Pharmaceutical Services for the Ministry of Health, mentioned the loss of lives and property due to tragic traffic accidents as one of the effects of drug abuse.
The Deji of Akure land, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, addressed people who took part in the health walk in his palace and thanked the state government for implementing the program.
Oba Aladelusi urged young people to educate their community about the risks of drug addiction, such as rising crime, terrorism, banditry, suicide, and school abandonment, among other things.
