Young addicts: why parents should act now

The rate at which young people nowadays get involved in drugs is very alarming. Some are of the opinion that drugs help them to forget about the pains they feel, maybe from a failed exam, family issue, etc. Most youths who take drugs end up becomimg juvenile delinquents and school dropouts. It is very appalling that some of them would prefer to take cough syrups to get high if they cannot lay hands on marijuana and they don’t bother about anything or even care what people think.

• What motherhood has taught me — Ronke Giwa

Young people take drugs to actually impress their peers; some have no power to say NO. Young people are prone to becoming addicts faster than adults and a developimg brain is more easily damaged than a fully mature brain. According to DrugsRehab.com, in 2016 more than 1.4 million teens needed treatment for an illicit drug problem. Parents should seek ways to help their teens so they don’t become addicts.

Erinle Temiloluwa,

Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.