The Cross River State Government, in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has warned students to steer clear of drug abuse.
The Special Assistant to Governor Bassey Otu on Students’ Orientation, Mr. Anthony Ogar-Ogabor, gave the advice at an educational orientation summit held in Calabar for secondary school students in the Southern Senatorial District.
The governor’s aide said the awareness drive targets both public secondary schools and higher institutions across the state.
Comrade Ogar-Ogabor emphasized that the objective of the campaign is to ensure the students excel academically and avoid drug abuse so as to secure a brighter future for themselves.
“We are educating students to stay away from social vices. Drug abuse, and pressure groups that distract them from their studies,” he said.
Also, an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics at the NDLEA Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Mr. Eyo Okon warned students against experimenting with drugs.
He described drug abuse as a major obstacle to academic success.
The Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics lamented that drug abuse has eaten deep into the fabric of society, with young people being the most vulnerable.
While noting that over 60 percent of young people in the state are involved in drug use, Okon attributed the trend largely to negative peer influence.
He remarked that drug demand reduction is an all-encompassing effort that requires collaboration across all sectors of society.
Some of the teachers and students who attended the summit expressed appreciation to the state government and the NDLEA for the awareness campaign.
The educational orientation summit has as its theme, “From Distractions to Distinction: Empowering Students to Overcome Social Pressure, Drug Temptation, and Career Confusion.”