Tobacco, gateway drug youths must avoid –Expert

Nigeria youths have been urged to avoid the use of tobacco, a substance described as a gateway drug and threat to their development.

Chief Executive officer, GoodWorker Ministry International, Pastor Tunji Agboola gave the charge at a school youth seminar to mark 2017 World No Tobacco Day in Ibadan.

Pastor Agboola said tobacco was a gateway drug because all other things been equal, an adolescent who uses tobacco, particularly when young, is more likely to use more dangerous drugs such as alcohol and marijuana.

According to him, “in practice, early introduction to substance use for adolescents is often through tobacco and/ or alcohol. These two drugs are considered the first “gate” for most adolescents. “

He stated that scientists have long recognised that cigarette and alcohol raise the risk for later use of illicit drugs like marijuana and cocaine among adolescents.

Pastor Agboola, who remarked that  adolescents brain were more sensitive to assault from drug use, urged them not to expose themselves to psycho-active substances like tobacco, alcohol and marijuana that may affect their mood.

He also warned of instances of girls being raped after they were drugged, drug use leading to expulsion from school as well as some people contracting HIV as a result of its use.

He described adolescents as prime targets for early intervention and prevention strategies against drug abuse because adolescents and  teenagers were more prone to error of judgement and as such may consider wanting to try smoking unlike a 30-year-old man.

Pastor Agboola therefore urged the youth to take a stand against tobacco use and become advocate of “No tobacco” use.

“One single drug addict can ruin a family because of the problem and stress of getting treatment for the person can be enormous,” he declared.

The school’s proprietor, Mrs Ayo Omotosho stated the need for increased involvement of other groups of people aside teachers to mould character of youths.

Mrs Omotosho declared : “we notice a lot of things in the life of students; they are teenagers, they feel they are mature and they can do many things. So we need to put them through.”

Over 180 students of Olive Branch College in Ibadan were in attendance at the event the group organised in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter.