The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), has the alarm over the high rate of youth involvement in drugs and substance abuse.
The alarm was raised at a one-day youth sensitization program tagged ‘No to Drugs’, organized by the Hayin Banki Peace and Reconciliation Committee in partnership with GPFN and Health Justice Development and Peace (HJDP) in Kaduna.
GPFN Country Director, Rev. John Joseph Hayab said, “We are allowing things that human hands have created to destroy us thereby throwing the future of our families and societies in doubt.”
Hayab described the event as a forum for heart to heart discussions on the way forward, considering that drugs and substance abuse have destroyed and is still destroying a lot of destinies in the country.
He noted that the event was not meant to condemn anybody, “but together with the people chart a way out of the menace that is doing so much harm to the society”.
“Our desire everyday is to see that the best and successful people come out of the community which is a mini Nigeria with people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds living peacefully,” he added.
Hayab further expressed concern that the menace of drugs and substance abuse in the community is not limited to young boys alone but also girls and married women.
He called for “self-soul searching and reflection” as well as concerted efforts by all and sundry to salvage the situation, which he said is capable of destroying the society.
Group laments involvement of Nigerian youths in drug, substance abuse