POCACOV urges Nigerians to support efforts to curb drug abuse among youths
BY: OFFOR STEPHEN OKECHUKWU
The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) has urged Nigerians of all works of life and creed to support efforts meant to curb drug and substance abuse among youths.
The National Coordinator of POCACOV, CSP Ebere Amaraizu, made the call while speaking with newsmen on the essence of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Enugu on Saturday.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, is celebrated every June 26 yearly, to raise awareness and strengthen all efforts to check drug/substance abuse worldwide.
Amaraizu said that drug and substance abuse remained an ill-wind that blows nobody any good, adding that “all stakeholders are enjoined to raise the awareness”.
According to him, we should join hands to ensure the deadly monster, drug and substance abuse, ravaging fabrics of the society by destroying the future of our young minds is addressed.
“All hands, both stakeholders and policing actors, must have to be on deck to ensure that there is constant awareness, sensitisation and campaign targeted at addressing drug and substance abuse.
“Totally stop youths who are using drug and substance abuse as a life coping measure and to overcome life challenges,” he said.
He noted that POCACOV as a Community Policing Initiative and Public Relations Tool of the Nigeria Police had been working with different stakeholders to galvanise support and partnership to totally rid the society of drug and substance abuse.
He said: “POCACOV is using community-based approaches towards reaching millions of Nigeria with the message of ‘Saying NO to Drug and Substance Abuse’.
“The effect of drug and substance abuse cannot be overemphasised as it is capable of causing one to lose concentration, cause reduction of memory function and lack of control over one’s action leads to truancy and lunacy.
“It makes one to lose his or her sense of judgment and have led and induced young minds into involvement in cultism, violent behaviours and other vices.
“We have to continually educate our young minds and relevant stakeholders on the inherent dangers of drug and substance abuse with emphasis that it is not a means of solving problems but getting into more problems and destruction of one’s future.”
Amaraizu, however, advocated for strong synergy and collaboration of all in the ongoing campaign against substance and drug abuse for a safe, peaceful and secure communities and society.
