Concerned parents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have raised the alarm of rising cases of drug abuse among youths in the metropolis.
Speaking with our correspondent, a resident of Old Port Harcourt Township, Emmanuel Asuquo, said the development has devastated many families in the city.
Asuquo said, “I am an indigene of Akwa Ibom State but resident in Old Port Harcourt Town. Drug abuse in this country is getting out of hand.
“Families are suffering from it. A child of 16 years now take drugs and that it is the worst part. You will sit with your friend and he will be talking off point. This is now affecting families and I don’t know how they will stop it.
“It involves both boys and girls. The governor has destroyed their hideout and they have entered the street. Everywhere you go now, you will see mad people. Government should find a way and move them to a particular place. They even hold the drugs to walk on the streets.”
Another resident of Port Harcourt, Comrade Johnson Jojo, expressed regrets that children under the age of 11 and 13 were getting involved in abuse of drugs and other substances in the state.
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“We call on government to come to our aid. If possible, government should establish an IDP camp for them. IDP camp should not be for only victims of insurgency. These children are the future leaders. Please, government should try and come up our aid to minimise all these things.”
Speaking on the ugly development, the permanent secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, said the rising burden of substance abuse among young people remains a major public health concern.
Wachukwu said: “The rising burden of substance abuse among young people requires a compassionate based and evidence-centered intervention.
“These centres have been designed to provide accessible and non-judgmental services to individuals struggling with substance use while supporting prevention, treatment and referrals to rehabilitation and social integration.
“The centres will serve as safe places where individuals can achieve counselling, training, social support, referral services, harm reduction support band linkages to appropriate treatments and rehabilitation services.”
