We are pleased to announce that Emmanghe Favour of Kings and Queens High School, Ikom Town, Cross River State, has been selected by an independent panel of judges as the 3rd position of the Drug Addiction Essay Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools. 

 

The epidemic of drug addiction in Nigeria has recently come to light. Those who are most vulnerable include young people. Therefore, to get them to think critically about the problems of drug use and abuse and partake in developing solutions to the problem we launched the Drug Addiction Essay Competition in November 2018.  

 

Read Emmanghe Favour's essay to find out more about the entry. 

 

 

A drug is a substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose. It is abused when there is an improper or wrong application/misuse of the drug. According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), drug abuse is the excessive and persistent self-administration of drugs without the prescription of a doctor, to the extent that it interferes with the health and social function of the individual. Any drug can be abused.

 

Drug abuse is a major problem in Cross River State, especially in Ikom Local Government. Statistics evidence shows that the majority of the people who indulge in this act are young people. The negative effects of drug abuse both to an individual and the society at large cannot be overemphasized. However, recent research works have been able to proffer solutions that can help tackle this menace, even in Ikom community.

 

Several factors can be attributed to why some persons abuse drugs. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (Feb, 2016), the tendency to abuse drugs can be inherited. Furthermore, self-development could be another factor that leads to drug abuse. Most people start the use of drugs so early in life. This causes them to be addicted to it. Majority of the people who abuse drugs are drug addicts.

 

Another preeminent cause is environment and peer pressure. Due to the environmental influences and the friends around, these youths are pressurized into taking hard drugs like those drugs meant for animals, sleeping pills, pain killers, and cough syrups, just because they have to feel good. Some also think that abusing drugs help to ease stress and depression even without considering the side effects.

 

Drug abuse has done unquantifiable harm to the youths of Ikom community and the community in its entirety. Individuals who abuse drugs are most likely prone to damaged immune system which consequently leads to susceptibility to infection. In addition, drug abuse could lead to the malfunctioning of some vital organs in the body such as the heart, the liver, the lung, the brain and even the skin, thereby exposing the victim to heart attack, liver failure, brain damage, skin infections, among others. Furthermore, Drug abuse is a secondary cause of untimely deaths amongst young people, unemployment, relationship and financial challenges, and crimes like stealing, rape, among others.

 

To tackle this menace, periodic enlightenment campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse should be carried out everywhere to young people in places such as worship centres, schools, etc. In addition, movies that encourage this should not be aired. Parents, religious leaders and celebrities should be encouraged to join this fight by helping to rehabilitate the victims.

 

In conclusion, considering the obvious consequences of drug abuse both to an individual and our society, all hands must be on deck to ensure a drug abuse free society. Youths must remember that a healthy youth builds up a healthy nation.

 

An outreach award ceremony was organised to celebrate Emmanghe Favour at Kings and Queens High School in Cross River. 

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