The Oyo State government on Monday expressed commitment to combat the rising rate of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking among youth and students in the State.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju spoke in Ibadan during an occasion organised in commemoration of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Dr. Adeyanju while emphasising the theme for the year, “People first: stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention” in a press briefing held at the conference room of the Ministry, revealed that the majority of drug cases were reported to be among students and youths respectively hence the need to intensify awareness on the consequences of drug abuse among the youth, became necessary.
He said the Oyo State Government has commenced intervention programmes, to tackle the menace, towards improving the health and well-being of its citizens.
According to reports by the UNODC, in the year 2021, around 275 million people used drugs worldwide, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorder, consequently, the number of people using drugs increased by 22 percent, owing in part to global population growth”, he said.
