The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified its campaign against drug abuse with a new sensitization program targeting secondary schools across the Territory.
The initiative seeks to educate students on the dangers of drug abuse and empower them to make informed, healthy choices. Speaking at the campaign launch held at Government Secondary School, Garki, the Head of Non-Communicable Diseases Division, Dr. Olubunmi Adeyemi, emphasized the importance of early intervention in preventing substance use among young people.
According to her, senior secondary school students fall within the age group most vulnerable to drug experimentation, making awareness crucial. “Educating them early will give them the confidence to say no and make firm decisions regarding substance use,” she said.
Dr. Adeyemi reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to tackling drug abuse among school-aged children, noting that the campaign will also cover Government Secondary Schools in Gwarimpa I (Life Camp), Lugbe, and Dutse Alhaji in the coming days.
Also addressing the students, the Head of the Mental Healthcare Unit, Mrs. Cordelia Obi-Anyanwu, highlighted that adolescence is a critical period where choices can shape future outcomes. She urged the students to “say no to drugs and yes to a brighter future,” warning that substance abuse devastates not just individuals but also families and communities.
In her presentation, Dr. Monturayo Oyelohunnu, a consultant psychiatrist, explained that drug addiction alters both the structure and function of the brain over time. She noted that young people between the ages of 11 and 24, whose brains are still rapidly developing, are particularly at risk of losing control and acting irrationally when they engage in drug use.
According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), over 14.3 million people reported using drugs in 2024 — a statistic that underscores the urgency of the FCTA’s ongoing sensitization efforts.
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