The Grace Thomas Foundation in collaboration with Christopher Oghogho Foundation, have called on families especially parents to be at the forefront in the fight against drug abuse to build a better society.
The Non-Governmental Organisations made the call at a Women and Family Drug Education Programme (WOFADEP) with the theme “The Role of Family in Drug Abuse Prevention’’ on Thursday in Abuja.
The Chief Executive Officer, Grace Thomas Foundation, Mrs Rejoice Henry-Wesley, said the move to address drug abuse from the family level was imperative.
Henry-Wesley said that the drug use was a universal problem that transcends boundaries and could affect any family.
According to her, when drug user is discovered within a family, it often leads to considerable stress, conflicts, and a pervasive sense of helplessness.
“The associated shame can cause both the family and the individual using drugs to deny the problem, further complicating the path to recovery and support.
“The Grace Thomas foundation was birthed out of my personal experience of losing a beloved sister to substance abuse.
“It was very tragic and because of that experience, we are inspired to enlighten and educate people so that they don’t go through the same struggles that my family suffered when my sister was abusing drugs,’’ she said.
Henry-Wesley said that education could reduce substance abuse by 50 per cent adding that educating the family would help in reducing drug abuse.
She advised women to stay close to their children, look out for the signs and be their children’s friends so as to be able to stop them from making wrong friends.
According to her, mothers should to also enlighten their children and let them know the dangers of abuse of drugs.
She said the event was organised with the aim to tackle the problem of drug abuse from a family perspective, emphasising the crucial role that families could play in preventing the menace.
Mrs Celina Onogwu, Member of Christopher Oghogho Foundation for Women, Girls and Youth, said there was need to sensitise Nigerians on the use of drug, particularly with the families especially with women.
Onogwu said that drug abuse was gradually taking over the society, adding that more women were involved in it which had affected families negatively.
She said the foundations had brought stakeholders to share information and experiences to enable families and people involved in drug abuse to know the effects.
“It is to also help family members to know what to do. So it is very important that this is happening right now.
“We the Christopher Oghogho Foundation, since we are focused on making sure that we contribute to society positively, we are joining them to make this possible, to give them our full support,’’ she added.
A representative of NDLEA, Precious Oyutu, an Assistant Commander of Narcotics, said that it was necessary to start the fight against drug abuse from the family level since all abuser came from families.
Oyutu said that educating the families on coping strategies and the way they should talk to their children was imperative in tackling the menace of substance abuse.
According to her, the pivotal role of family in preventing drug abuse cannot be overstated.
“By fostering and nurturing family environments, establishing supportive networks, and advocating for comprehensive preventive measures, society can create a resilient foundation that mitigates the risks and impacts of substance abuse,’’ she said.
A member of Women of Worth, NDLEA, Precious OyutuNDLEA, Precious Oyutu, said that the issue of drugs abuse was becoming worrisome and it was apt for organisations to collaborate to address the menace.
Bagorma urged women to drive the fight against drug abuse being the closest to their children, urging stakeholders to leverage their collective effort to tackle drug abuse.
Sumaila Ogbaje
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA