Mrs Chioma Ibezim, Wife of the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, has called on parents to watch their wards closely to guide against involvement in cultism and drug abuse.
Ibezim made the call through the Action and Outreach Committee of the diocese, led by Dr Hope Eze, who was on sensitisation mission on Sunday at the Church of The Pentecost Awka Anglican Communion, Awka Diocese.
Ibezim said the increased drug abuse and cultism among young and adults and its negative implications have become worrisome.
She said that closer watch of the activities of their family members would give room for early detection of wrong behaviours among the children and such could be quickly fixed.
Quoting the World Health Orgsnisation (WHO), Ibezim said substance abuse refers to the harmful use of psychoactive substance including alcohol and illicit drugs.
She listed the complications of substance abuse to include increases in the odds of engaging in risky sexual behaviour, personality disorders, sexual violence, criminal tendencies and drug dependence.
According to her, cultism is a secret society which is not open to everybody, cultism therefore is act of belonging to a secret cult were they come together for unapproved purposes.
She mentioned drugs usually abused to include cigarette, tram adolescent, marijuaba, codeine, valium 5, cocaibe, heroine, Chinese capsule.
She said globally the harmful use of these drugs had resulted in 3.3 million deaths yearly, adding that over 15 million persons are involved in this disorder.
The Diocesan said the consequences for drug addiction is many such as social impact which leads to decline in academic performance and opportunities.
She said that it leads to vulnerability to crime and violence and strained relationships with family and friends.
Ibezim further said that it has emotional well being implications such as increased risk of depression, anxiety and emotional instability, loss of self esteem and self worth.
She reminded the congregation that if they neglect their duties by grooming their children properly and such join cultism or other related criminal conduct it would bring bad names to the family.
She said that the effect of drug intake during and after their initiations may lead to sickness, death, academic failures amongst other vices.
The Diocesan informed the congregations that more than 2.6 million young people aged between 10 and 24 years die each year due to abuse of substance.
“Fentanyl alone kills a young person every six minutes thereby causing heartache for local families and friends.
“There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death, as recorded in Holy Bible, Proverb 16 verse 25,Proverb 14 verse 12.
“The end of drug abuse and cultism is death and we can avoid it if we pay due attention to our children and young adults,” she said.
Mrs Anothina Ikeakor, a member of the team appealed to the people to take the sensitisation seriously.
She said they need to ensure that they depopulate the number of people who die yearly because of drug abuse and cultism.
Responding, the Vicar incharge of the church,Ven. Ekenedilichikwu Nwafor commended the initiative of the women Diocese.
Nwafor said the church would not relent in talking about the dangers of cultism and drug abuse in the families and society at large.