The Menace of Drug Abuse
By Kayode Ojewale It is not the drugs that make a drug addict, it’s the need to escape reality – Riley Blue (fictional character portrayed by Tuppence Middleton) Addiction begins with hope that something “out there” can instantly fill up the emptiness inside – Jean Kilbourne, a public speaker. In Nigeria, the cosmetic approach of always treating the symptoms rather than the disease has created more problems than solutions in the fight against drug abuse and addiction. The failure to deploy a sustainable holistic approach to tackling drug abuse and addiction from the source, keeps impacting our society negatively. This drug-troubled situation has remained so for long, given the deep-rooted nature of drugs and this has eaten far into the fabric of our nation today. It is therefore imperative for all concerned and well-meaning Nigerians to address this ravaging challenge in our society today by providing a lasting solution as a matter of national urgency and emerge...