Going by the historic formation of Nigeria political system in past and present policy frameworks, the federal government has deliberately refused giving the needed attention to youth affairs until recently when a directorate of youth affairs and social mobilization in Edo State was created, as a part of incumbent agenda to take care of the vital evils related to Youth Violence within the state. Attributable to the political antecedent, the issue of medicine and alcohols usage has endangered the youth, thereby giving a statistical draw-back towards the needed atmosphere for sustainable policy implementation.
Understanding what drugs is key to their potential abuses, and additionally it is a move to create a record how drugs can led to extend in high level of crime and violence within the Niger Delta religion, and all other religious and sectarian prone zones in Nigeria.
Psychologically speaking, psychoactive substance is something that folks take to alter the best way they feel, think or behave. Moreover, a few of these substances are called drugs, and others, like alcohols and tobacco are considered dangerous but aren’t called drugs. The term drugs also cover a lot of substances, which should be used under medical supervision to treat illnesses.
The commissioner for the Ministry of Health prior to now made several errors of their policy implementation, without considering the psychosocial and economic dilemmas to the state. Incidentally, prior to now administration, greater than 28.05% of the state budget went into the fight against crime, while 12% would have been used to avert the crime before it occurrence through sensitization workshops and publicity. Sarcastically, the identical percentage at present might be channeled right into a directorate empowered with the responsibility to orientate and educate the youths on the risks of medicine abuse, to be able to avert future recurrent issues referring to violence which has plagued the states and her youth force.
Consequently, with the fitting resources and manpower, the Oshiomole Administration through its creation of the Directorate of Youth Affairs and Social Mobilization (DYASM). It is a sign of the administration’s readiness to combat crime, and put the youths within the forefront of presidency policy implementation. One in every of the main areas within the framework of the brand new directorate is to review and conduct research on youth violence and other problems with Drug abuse.
For our purpose due to this fact, let me intimate us all the State Government’s commitment to offer hope to the youth of the state; and inculcate in them the spirit of peace, and the expression of their political franchise. Although with the ability vested on the DYASM; the federal government might be rest assured that violence, especially cult related ones will probably be reduced to its bearest minimum.
The Directorate should be given its full mandate in accordance with the law to exercise its judicial functions. And based on the clause of the law which brought the Directorate into being, it was created to secure serene governance through its enlightenment campaign, using the media houses in any respect levels. This may only but boost quite a few strategies for mobilization and orientation for teenagers.
A specific issue is of gray importance, and this is worried with drug abuses, which has affected the youth, giving rise to unprecedented death toll of greater than 13.2% for the last 9years of our nation’s democratic process. For our convenience allow us to treat drug abuse as those man-made or naturally occurring substances used without medical supervision mainly to alter the best way an individual feels, thinks or behaves in order that they will enjoy the nice things of life. Previously, most drugs were constituted of plants; that’s, plants were grown after which converted into drugs such coca paste, opium and marijuana.
Over time, the crude products were further processed to yield drugs like cocaine and heroin. And at last, within the twentieth century people discovered tips on how to make drugs from chemicals. These are called man-made, or synthetic, drugs and include speed, ecstasy, LSD, etc. These were initially manufactured, largely for experimental reasons and only later were they used for recreational purposes. Now, nonetheless, with the increased size and scope of the drug trade, people got down to invent drugs especially for recreational human consumption.
This same recreational tendencies has blended into the genetic nature of human life and activities, it agreed with some theories, while to some it was hugely unstable causing series of uncomfortable side effects similar to hallucination and psychotic episodes; starting from neurosis to schizophrenia. It’s in these episodes of various propensity and intensity that the motivation to commit crime is centered, as a result of unprecedented offshoots of unconscious paranoia and anger synthesis; hence violence and motivated crimes were sometimes perpetuated and mastermind in a euphoric unconsciousness by the youth force.
Designed drug-cocktails appeared and disappeared with astonishing regularity, tentatively, for the primary time in human history a complete industrial complex created and produced drugs that were meant for use outside and in defiance of social conventions for the only purpose of non-public enjoyment. There are a complete lot of issues fallacious with drug abuse. Although substance abuse has many negative physiological health effects, starting from minor issues like digestion problems or respiratory infections, to potentially fatal diseases, like AIDS and hepatitis (American Psychological Association (APA) 2006, P.15) are eminent. After all, the attendant effects relied on the drug and on the quantity, method and frequency of use.
Looking back, some drugs are very addictive, like heroin, while others are less so. However the up-shop is that regular drug abuse or sustained exposure to a drug-even for a brief period of time-can cause physiological dependence, which suggests that when the person stop doping up, he/she experiences physical withdrawal symptoms and a craving for the drug. Medically, drug abuse also causes brain damage. Again depending on the drug, the strength and character of this damage varies. But one thing is obvious; drug abuse affects the best way the brain function, and alters its responses to the world.
Some things that acts on one’s brain and the final consciousness of any individual is known as psychoactive, this explains how drugs affects individual behavior, actions, feelings and motivations are known to be unpredictable. By meddling within the natural ways the brain functions, abusers exposes themselves to risks they aren’t aware of. Finally; drug abuse damages the flexibility of individuals to act as free and conscious beings, able to taking the fitting motion and decision. Hence crime and violence becomes inevitable. Drug abusers are unable to meet their basic needs, while so many frustrated abusers resort to crime and violence as a method to quell their hyperactivity.
In the perfect sense of the word, prior to now, drugs weren’t as strong and potent as they at the moment are; even the so-called ‘Natural’ or soft drugs like marijuana or ‘skunk’ are again and again more powerful than they were within the 1980’s. Subsequently the agencies with the blueprint that know what the youths are going through in Edo state is DYASM. Frankly they’re 1000’s of youths who’re affected by drug related cases, and by proxy they need assistance from Government policies circumventing around youth sustainable developments. The prior function of the youth affairs and social mobilization is to sensitize the youths on quite a few opportunities available to them.
INVENTING THE SYNERGY FOR PREVENTION
The YASM must take motion to assist the youths within the state, through its sustainable initiative model in tackling issues which can be scheduled to support their sustenance. The function of YASM is to discover those youths that working hard to make the state habitable, and reward them; while formulating policies through government assistance in bringing youths within the hinterland in order that their voice could be heard, and assisted in whatever initiative brought by them to the federal government. And in addition orientate them on the ills of violence, drug abuse and other social vices. The directorate should encourage youth parliament throughout the state to take part in mass media to discus those projects that directly affects them. Through the directorate I’m quite sure the state government will formulate policies that may empower the youths, granting them permission to created a report by making themselves useful, and in compliance and in agreement with government existing policies, and such reports must be the bases for further government policy forecast.
Dr. Carl-Collins Ogunshola Oshodi
PhD, Conflict Management
PhD, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Msc. Clinical Psychology
Msc. Military Science
MA. Philosophy
Bsc. Applied Psychology