Kaduna residents lament rise in drug abuse among women, youths

Residents of ‘Black Street’ in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have lamented over the increasing use of illicit and psychotropic drugs among women and youths in the area.

The residents called on the state government to enforce a ban on the use of illicit and psychotropic drugs across communities in the state, saying Black Street is one of the communities with a high number of drug abusers with women not exempted.

The call came during a one day sensitisation campaign on the involvement and effect of substance abuse among women, held at Sabon Tasha, with the theme: “Better Knowledge for Better Care: Ensuring A Drug Free Community for Women,” organised by the Centre for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child, otherwise known as CAMAC.

One of the resource persons, Mr. Caleb Mark Ishaya, of Benjamin BisanShekari Foundation (BBSF), explained the effects of drug abuse to include violence, damaged cells, chronic infection as well as death.

On his part, the Executive Director of CAMAC, Alex Uangbaoje, who was represented by CAMAC’s Head of Administration, Samuel Otitolaiye, said drug abuse was not just dangerous to the health of women but to the health of their children and the unborn children.