Drug Abuse has rendered many youths useless– Princess Amam

The Chief Executive Officer of Adorable Foundation International, Princess Ada Okeke Amam, who has been in the forefront in the fight against drug abuse, particularly among the young ones, has disclosed that drug abuse has rendered many youths useless in the society.

Amam,  in a recent interview  lamented the increase in number of youths, who are engaged in drug abuse, calling on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to urgently address the issue through the rehabilitation of those already affected.

While pointing out that there was need for more awareness, she said: “In our organization, we go from one school to the other, educating the young ones on the dangers associated with drug abuse.

“From the question most of them do ask, it is apparent that many of them are not aware of the  dangers of  drug abuse  and that is to say that  those who  are already in to it did that without knowing  the harm it could cause in their lives,” she stressed.

Amam, who is deeply involved in  community advocacy, added that her involvement  in the campaign  against  drug abuse among the youths was  to  complement the efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as the government would not do it all alone.

She highlighted some of the adverse effect of drug abuse among the youth, stressing that drugs like cocaine, heroin, gbana, among others, had rendered them useless.

The  founder of Adorable Foundation, while noting that any youth who wants to be successful in life would not have anything  to  do   with  hard drugs, explained: “It  is not  just anyone  smoking,  over- use  a prescribed  drug,  taking  weed  or  cocaine  is abusing drug, experts  advised  that if  you go to a particular child’s  room, observe  what is within.

“You may see a lighter or matchbox, pieces of papers, bottles. If the child is not sick, the parent should ask what cough syrup is doing in the room. The cough syrup is now taking a new dimension.

“Young girls who are future mothers mostly abuse it. If we allow them continue taking codeine, they may be unable to reproduce. The more they take, the more it damages the womb and that would be the end.

“Also look out for corks (especially from bottles) it is very important in burning cocaine. They usually light a candle under the cork; then they would hold the cork with a scissors for it to start burning.

“Initially they use teaspoon, but now corks are in fashion. If you see syringes in their rooms, you should ask why, especially if the person is not a doctor.”