Disclosing this recently in Abuja , the Chairman of the Civil Society Organization Mann Baddeley during  an awareness creation exercise for secondary school pupils on Drug Abuse- and violence among teenagers pointed out that the high rate of depression in the country leading to suicide  most people fall into are because  of drug abuse

Pointing out that the awareness creation was part of activities to celebrate the World Children’s Day celebration with the theme illicit drug abuse among teenagers and the challengers he noted that the importance of the sensitization exercise was because of the prevalent rate of drug abuse amongst the youths.

He  encouraged  teenagers and youths to get high on grades and not on drugs.

Lamenting that the awareness level of drug abuse is low in the country, he said many youths have fallen into drug abuse due to the lack of understanding and they could be easily lured through peer pressure.

Mann said they have been working with UNODC to sensitize the youths on the effect of drug abuse and the need for them not to fall into victim of being pressurize into the illicit act.

The Deputy Director Child Welfare Social Development Secretariat FCT bemoaned the high level of drug abuse in the society affirming that the usage among used could be as high as 40percent.

He said “Drug abuse among children has become a source of concern, aside the conventional drugs there are other things taken as drugs such as Solution for tyre, cough syrups among others.

Stressing the need to raise more awareness on the menace, he noted that aside government, parents, schools, friends all have roles to play in addressing the situation.

A Senior Resident Doctor with National Hospital,  Opeyemi Oshodi said the effect of drug abuse is far reaching saying their is high risk of mental illness and also limited productivity.