The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) has urged parents and guardians to pay attention to their children to avert the syndrome of entering into drugs.
NACOB said “there is the need for parents, guardians, and the community to cultivate the habit of listening to children and youth to be abreast with their needs, concerns, emotions and all that pertain to their general wellbeingâ€.
NACOB made the appeal in a statement issued to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (also known as World Drug Day), which falls on June 26 each.
It is a day set aside by the UN to raise awareness about the effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking on the individual, community and the world at large.
On this day, member states are expected to organize sensitization programmes that will enlighten the citizenry on the dangers and negative effects of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The theme for this year’s World Drug Day is: ‘Listen First-Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safeâ€, and according to NACOB, the theme focus on addressing the general concerns of Children and the Youth in the society as well as throwing more light on parents to take up their full responsibility in helping shape the lives of our youth.
“This year’s celebration would address the need for parents, guardians, and the community to cultivate the habit of listening to children and youth to be abreast with their needs, concerns, emotions and all that pertain to their general wellbeing, NACOB added.
It said “in view of this, parents, guardians, clergy and the community are encouraged to monitor the daily activities of the children; the friends they keep, what they watch on social media and frequent their schools to ask of the performance and behavior of their children, etcâ€.
“When parents and their children become sensitive to each other’s feelings, it will go a long way to build a mutual trust and confidence leading the children to naturally preserve their family bondsâ€, it added.
It said, “according to the world drug report (UNODC) 2017, about 190,000 people lost their lives to drug abuse and a higher number of them also suffered from drug use disorders and its related diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B &C and Tuberculosis. Drug trafficking fuels money laundering, terrorism, corruption and transnational organized crime which have become a problem for the worldâ€.
NACOB also cautioned the general public especially the youth about the excessive abuse of tramadol and cough mixtures containing components of codeine as they give similar effects of narcotics substance.
“NACOB is assuring the general public of its commitment to address the challenges of drug abuse and illicit trafficking and also to increase awareness of the need for parents, guardians and the community at large to pay more attention to the needs of their wardsâ€, it added.
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