Danger of Drug Abuse on Nigeria’s Youths -By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho

Youths have developed a habit of causing harm to society. Our parents and teachers do their best, but children still get into problems.

The dangers of drug usage have produced a slew of issues in every community, and such issues will never be resolved until the government takes substantial steps to address them.

The use of a drug or any other substance in excess of what is ordinarily required is referred to as drug abuse. It entails the erroneous use of medications or substances.

The problem of drug usage among our adolescents has gotten so serious that unless something is done quickly, our children’ futures will be jeopardized. “Youth are the leaders of tomorrow,” as the old adage goes. True! However, the situation is deteriorating faster than anyone could have predicted.

Meanwhile, how can we be ruled by imperceptive beings or madmen? Our leaders in government have a lot of work to do on youths in order for the country to improve.

The risks of drug usage on our youth do not need to be looked for; they can be readily seen and felt in the frightening pace at which Nigerian adolescents are committing crime today. Most of the time, young youths have feeble minds and are incapable of acting criminally on their own volition. However, when substances like cannabis, cocaine, and Indian hemp are used. It will undoubtedly convert them into vicious creatures unable of self-control, forcing them to engage in violence and other uncontrolled behavior.

Drug usage has led to an increase in the number of young people being sent to mental facilities. Though psychiatric hospitals are intended for persons with mental illnesses, many of them end up there owing to their excessive use of hard drugs, which science has demonstrated to be a primary catalyst for brain cell damage.

Then I kept learning till I understood the following variables contribute to drug misuse among our youth: the home, peer groups, and society. That is the key subject I shall address.

First and foremost, “Charity begins at home,” as the old proverb goes. Those remarks had a positive effect on my life. They have seriously influenced me. As a result, everything a youngster learns at home is likely to stay with him or her for the remainder of his or her life. Consider the following scenario: At home, a child may witness his parents, older brother, sister, or other family members smoking, drinking alcohol, or doing strong narcotics. Because the person drug usage is getting worse, he will most likely follow such folks, posing a significant problem for his classmates and school authorities.

There are numerous places where a child can obtain proper home training and a normal way of behaving when it comes to the dangers of drug misuse. However, when the child leaves the house to go to school or somewhere else, the influence of his classmates may lead to drug misuse. As a result, the foundation that was erected at home will be automatically dismantled.

Second, peer groups, where a child’s image is tainted by the negative impact of classmates or peers, as well as his parents. Some of your peers are bad, while others are excellent. As a result, wise people say, “Show me your pals, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Parents must keep an eye on their children and keep track of who they hang out with and spend the most of their time with. Parents should have a favorable influence on their children in order for them to succeed later in life.

Furthermore, Society is the largest residence for young people. Meanwhile, society is another aspect that contributes to our youth’s drug misuse. The impact and influence of sexy western movies and terrible dress code in Nigeria appears to have poisoned the minds of our youths with images of individuals doing drugs in the movies. As a youngster grows and notices that the norms in his society include immortality, corruption, and influence in drug usage, they will quickly conclude that if other people can engage in all types of terrible behavior without consequence, then there is nothing wrong with him doing the same.

“A shared problem is a problem solved.” So, armed with some information gleaned from my studies on the effects of drug misuse on our young. I shall argue that the basic cause of the societal threat is the family. Home, as we all know, is the foundation of everyone in society, thus it must be repaired. Drug addiction has become a high-volume substance used for long-term sustainability, particularly in the northern region. I kept a close eye on them because there are areas where heavy drugs and alcoholics are taken in every nook of their culture. Specifically, some terrible gangs will be drinking and smoking evil stuff in front of the police station, which is sad and bad. However, I would like the government to take some significant efforts in this regard, both for our own future as youth and for the sake of the country as a whole.

In my opinion, religious leaders play a key role that must be taken seriously. If moral principles are taught at home and religious leaders provide further tutoring on fear of God’s, I believe it is the most effective strategy to keep one’s heart out of wicked activities.

Furthermore, the government should prohibit erotic western films from entering the Nigerian film sector. All ill manners that have arisen in our society will be limited as a result of this.

To summarize, the government should control and enforce the selling of hard narcotics in markets. Because, in order for Nigeria to improve, a new generation of youths must emerge. All harmful chemicals that have caused a lot of harm to our health must be avoided. So that Nigeria can be a better place for our children to thrive in, and they can leave the country with a better life and no damage to their hearts.

Nigeria’s, by God’s grace, will succeed.

Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho is a student at Biga College of Education in Sokoto, studying English language and Islamic studies.

Oluwatoyinhawalbolaji@gmail.com is his email address.