The Creative Industry Group, an association for performers, has raised alarm over the rising prevalence of drug abuse among young Nigerians, characterising it as an epidemic that needs immediate attention.
CIG President Felix Duke staid in a statement on Monday that the use of illegal drugs has reached alarming proportions, encouraging criminal activity and dangerous behaviour that endangers children and the nation.
According to jerrymusa.com Duke made it clear that not all celebrities engage in this kind of lifestyle, even if he acknowledged that some had been connected to drug use. He pointed out that some parents are to blame for getting their kids started on drugs.
In order to reduce the harmful impact, he advised parents to keep a closer eye on their children’s friendships and activities. He went on to say that if the problem of juvenile drug use is not quickly addressed as a priority, there can be terrible repercussions.
On November 28, CIG is hosting a drug misuse conference to raise awareness and bring stakeholders together to develop solutions for the epidemic.
On November 23, a roadwalk has also been planned to draw attention from the general public. “Crimes at this level will be child’s play,” he declared.
This is not the moment for everyone to lie down and look in one direction, caring just about themselves and a select group of individuals.
We are leveraging the body of entertainers, which is the creative industry group, to execute this campaign to let the world know that hard drugs are harmful since they have become an epidemic in our society that needs everyone’s attention.
Our initiative will examine how we can minimise the amount of drug use among our young people in society.
Duke added that in an effort to drastically reduce youth drug usage, which he regretted has spread throughout Nigerian culture, CIG is bringing the sensitization programme to states, beginning with Lagos.
He declared, “We are expanding the campaign to other states, with Lagos as our starting point.” In order to combat the devastating epidemic endangering the futures of young people, the performers’ bodies highlighted the necessity of cooperative efforts between the government, schools, security agencies, civil groups, and communities.