Niger Delta
Bayelsa Tasks Parents On Involvement In Curbing Drug Abuse
The Bayelsa State Government says parents must be involved in checking drug abuse in the society.
Commissioner for Power, Hon. Abitei Robert Tonyo, said this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the just-concluded international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Commissioner said everyone must be involved in curbing drug abuse as Government alone cannot do everything
“First, it’s something that everyone of us has to be involved, including the parents, because most of these things start from the family”, he said.
He said most parents no longer pay attention to the behavior of their children.
The Commissioner said while Government is playing its part in curbing the menace, it behoves parents to give proper attention to the upbringing of their children.
“So, the governments have done their part and keep doing it on daily basis, that is why we are even seeing this little difference.
“Again, the security agents are also doing their bits and without the security agents and the government, I don’t think it would have had any control, but because of the fear of the government that has even controlled it to this level where we are.
“So, every parent must have to be involved. You can see that the society we are, like I said, everything starts from the family now, because the upbringing matters sometimes.
Tonyon said the Bayelsa State Government has taken some measures to curb the menace, including the arrest of drug addicts, rehabilitating and sending them back to their families
“I know Bayelsa State government has put enough in place, and that’s why yesterday we were able to launch it and observe the day against international day drug abuse.
“Government has set up a committee that is handling it and Bayelsa State has also built a hospital to rehabitate all those that are already addicted.
“Also, the State Government sometime ago has been going out arresting all those boys that have been addicted. some of the addiction led to some of them going mad on the streets.
“Some have been rehabitated and sent back to their communities”, he said.
The Commissioner said the government is also partnering with the Federal Medical center, Yenagoa, to rehabilitate those arrested from the streets.
He said all the relevant ministries, including that of Enviroment, health and others are involved in the rehabilitation programme.
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“The government took a decision and ministrirs of health, Ennvironments and other relevant ministries were on it, arresting them and taking them to the hospital and rehabilitating them”, he said.
Tonyon said his Government is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that it rids the state of drug addicts.
“Of course you know that right now the government has put up a structure in hospital for that.
“The Bayelsa State Government is taking practical steps on that. First, the government put up a structure and also manpower.
“We partnered with the Federal Medical Center and have a space in there that has been keeping these people and managing them with the manpower that we have.
“The Government did not just put the structure, it also followed it up accordingly, so that what we are putting in place will not be a waste”, he said.
He advised the youths to desist from drug abuse, saying it will not pay them any good.
“My advice to the youths, elders and adults involved in drug abuse is for them to desiste from using drugs because it will always not end well for them”, he stated.
He urged them to think of something good to improve their lives, adding that by indulging in drug abuse, they are destroying their future and that of their families.
By: Christy David