NDLEA Officer to NYSC Corps: ‘Drug Abuse is a Mental Illness,’ Urges Vigilance

A Principal Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos Command, Stella Amaechi, has urged 2023 Batch “C” Stream II corps members at the NYSC Lagos Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, to eschew activities that would enable abuse of drugs, stating drug abuse is a mental illness.

The clinical psychologist described drug abuse as a mental illness that has become prevalent in today’s society for various reasons.

According to her, some of these include depression, peer pressure, and economic reasons. Buttressing her point, she stated that financial incapability as a result of the country’s economic situation can lead to depression, which in turn prompts a person to indulge in drug abuse.

Amaechi added that the menace of drug abuse has far-reaching consequences, some of which are death and broken families. She also urged corps members not to castigate or discriminate against people who abuse drugs but to assist them in seeking help.