#PNN E-Mentoring (Taiwo Akinlami): Personal Safety/Self-Protection from Drug Abuse (5)

I say Happy Easter to you all my young friends. I believe you are all enjoying your holidays.

I have been discussing with you here on how to protect yourself from drug abuse. How have you been finding the discussions? Have they been helpful? I cherish your feedbacks. For some of you who sent comments, you will see that I have been responding to them on the platform.

I have shared with you the six reasons, I believe young people abuse drug. I think I have only two assignments left on this discussion. The first is to discuss with you the impact of drug abuse and the last is to share with you how you can avoid being involved in drug abuse. I will do the first one today and next week, by the grace of God, I will round off this series with the second.

Drug abuse does not have any advantage for you as a young person. As a matter of fact, it is a distraction to your mind. Your mind is very important to your success today and tomorrow. You cannot afford your mind to be messed up by drugs. ‘We know from scientific research that the earlier you start using drugs, the more likely you are to become addicted and suffer serious social and medical consequences. The reasons for this are complex—first, drugs affect the brain, and the brain is still developing until early adulthood.’ Medical science has established that “addiction is a brain disease…. Studies have shown that nicotine, cocaine, heroine, amphetamines and other addictive drugs alter the brains pleasure circuit, known as reward circuit”.

It has also been established that ‘drug abuse and addiction and other mental disorders are intimately related, so this question is like a coin that can be looked at from two different sides. On one hand, we have known for a long time that people who abuse drugs, in general, have higher rates of many mental illnesses. In fact, there is evidence that drug abuse early in life may increase the risk of psychiatric disorders or accelerate their course.’

Above all, drug addiction can cause a young person his/her life. Still in the news is the painful case of Bobbi Kristina “Krissy” Brown, who has been in coma since January 31, 2015 after she was found face down in a bathtub in her Georgia home. Brown has been in the news for a while now for drug use. It is important to note that drug abuse has claimed the lives of many young people, among many other health hazards it brings.

I will sign out here today. Please join me next week as we bring this discussion to a close. Please note that I am available on this platform for interactions.

Please Stay SMART and do have your wonderful selves an INSPIRED week.

Taiwo Akinlami is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, foremost Child Protection Specialist, Consultant to UNICEF, governments, and other leading national and international organisations on Child Protection, Independent Legal and Social Regulatory Expert on Child’s Rights and Responsibilities Issues, Legal Enlightenment & Development Enthusiast, Researcher, Social Empowerment Advocate, Author, Blogger and an accredited facilitator of the British Council School Leadership Program. Website: www.taiwoakinlami.com│Blog: www.taiwoakinlami.wordpress.com│Twitter: @taiwoakinlami