AS the menace of drug abuse among youths in Lagos State spirals, the most recent casualty has been identified as a 20-year-old boy (name withheld) in the Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA of Alimosho LGA.
This comes as notorious spots for drug abuse in the state are uncovered, with primary school pupils identified among young residents who consistently abuse drugs.
Speaking on the prevalence of drug use in his community, a CDC Chairman in Agbado Oke-Odo, Mr Ernest Kasunmu, said that the rate of drug and substance abuse in the area was very high.
He said: “Drug addiction begins with idleness and joblessness of youth. Once they lack engagement and livelihood, many of them are bound to go into substance abuse.
“Also, some parents are responsible for their children going into drug addiction as was the case with the 20-year-old man who died of substance abuse in my community. When I visited his father to condole with him, I discovered that he was aware of his son’s case. The man could not feign ignorance of his son’s drug addiction. He knew the kind of company his son kept. So, he could not claim not to know what he did. The young man died of a drug overdose.
“The rate of substance abuse in Agbado Oke-Odo is now very high. We have them lurking around the community. They are there at the White House Bus Stop in Ajasa Command. They are in Amikanle and Tunji Alaso. It takes the strong willed to be able to walk through these areas. The CDC is doing its best to positively engage the younger ones, especially primary school pupils before they are lured into that destructive lifestyle."
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
