STEEM CAMEROON - INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING (NIGERIA)

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Hello everyone, I am happy to be part of this contest once again and believe me I am glad we are all doing fine. Today, I want to talk about one of the world's biggest problem especially among the youth and how it is being commemorated here in Nigeria.

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The <International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking was founded by the United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 1987 inorder to strengthen a quick observation on illicit drug abuse. This day was set aside to create awareness against this abuse in a bit to curtail the rate of the abuse.

This campaign was designed to also weaken the edge of stigmatization against people who use drugs, thereby creating a a perfect space for easy interaction of people who abuse drugs. It is also worthy of note that speaking of stigmatization against people using drugs, this does not mean that the United Nations support the abuse of drugs but creating a safe space for drug users to communicate their addiction without being judged and looked down on.

In Nigeria, different Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) do go from higher institutions to higher instructions in order to create awareness against the menacing effect of drug abuse among tertiary institution students. It is believed that tertiary institution is where some students are introduced to this illicit drugs and on the long run, they tend to abuse them.

Also, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will go live on air to speak about the endangering result caused by drug abuse. This year's theme for commemoration was Building Back Better: Support, Treatment and Recovery. This topic was shared on sir, much was discussed about it, ranging from the complex challenge caused by drug abuse on the economy and security of the country to the health effects of it's abuse. A brief run down on some analysis on the effect of drug trafficking which state that according to the UNODC, around 275 million people abuse drugs around the world atleast for once in 2020 and about 30 million people are addicted to it globally, this is a high surge amount considering the total number of youths we have in our today's society.

Awarding prizes to students
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During this campaign, Use Offot being the residential community were being visited by members of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the youths were gathered and were being taught the effects of engaging on illicit drug abuse. Questions were being asked on the different ways of abusing drugs and some people were surprised to hear that taking drugs without doctor's prescription is another way of abusing drugs, because this has always been the minor issue but yet one of the most deadliest practise among Nigerians that needed to be addressed.

One on One sessions was organized by the agency members accompanied by the health professionals inorder to have a heart to heart talk with those that were concerned, these are people who admitted to abusing one drugs or the other. The session covered counseling and brief medical checkup to know their health status and advise were given appropriately.

Students who participated in the quiz competition were being given one prize or another, some won cash prize and some gadgets. This goes along way to encourage students to abstain from illicit drug abuse.

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Still in the Spirit of Commemoration, I would want us to celebrate the National Postal Worker Day ( July 1st). We need to celebrate postal workers who makes sure that every of our packages are delivered safely, they merit it and as such should be celebrated.

I invite
@etette, @goodybest and @heisjubilant to participate in this contest if they have not done that yet.