The need for parents to pay closer attention to their children in order to nip in the bud any tendency toward drug abuse and substance use was one of the key messages during a one-day public enlightenment campaign organized by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) at the Ogbe-Ijoh Market in Warri.
The sensitization campaign, which witnessed robust participation from women traders, served as a platform for critical dialogue on strategies to combat the growing threat of illicit substance use in society.
Despite the day’s commercial hustle, the market women listened intently as the DESOPADEC team, led by the Head of Community Development and Public Enlightenment, Chinenye Ezonfade, representing the Commission’s Executive Director, Social Services, Chief Favour Izoukumor, delivered vital messages on parental responsibility.
Speakers from the enlightenment unit, Rita Takeme and Honeywell Eburajolo, emphasized the pivotal role of mothers in preventing drug abuse.
They called on parents to build stronger emotional bonds with their children and prioritize guidance over commerce.
Such relationships, they noted, could help children resist peer pressure and stay away from drugs, which pose serious physical and psychological health risks.
The DESOPADEC team also drew a clear connection between hard drug use and the alarming rise in social vices such as armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killings, cybercrime, and prostitution.
They warned that drug abuse not only endangers personal health but also undermines youth education and the country’s overall productivity.
Mothers were specifically urged to monitor the friendships their children form and to supervise the use of mobile phones and internet-enabled devices, stressing that unchecked digital access can expose young minds to harmful influences and criminal networks.
During an engaging interactive session, several traders voiced their concern over the growing drug problem.
Some shared personal stories of how substance abuse has devastated their families and communities.
They appealed to government authorities to intensify crackdowns on the production and trafficking of illicit drugs.
To foster active involvement, DESOPADEC rewarded select participants who made impactful contributions during the session with tokens of appreciation, encouraging them to carry the campaign’s message into their homes and neighbourhoods.
