Hard drugs kill 73 persons in Delta

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

No fewer than seventy three persons have been reportedly killed through the use of hard drugs across Delta State, especially among youths in various higher institutions of learning.
Concerned Residents of Ethiope East ( CREE) a Non-governmental Organization ( NGO) made this known to newsmen in Asaba, Delta State yesterday, said within the period under review, the seventy three victims were mainly students of higher institutions across the state.
The NGO said unless urgent steps are taken, there could more disasters among these unrepentant youths.
The Coordinator of the NGO, Emmanuel Happy who spoke on behalf of others, noted that the hard drugs particularly Indian hemps, Codeine and other drugs were detrimental to their physical and mental health, adding that youths in Abraka community, Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam among others have been virtually involved in the use of hard drugs in the recent times.
He said, only recently, a 23 year- old boy suddenly ran mad in Ogwashi Uku community after allegedly taking hard drugs popularly called tramadol to make love to his girlfriend , the boy was completely naked, people pursued him and he was caught and taken to the hospital where he is at present still responding to treatment.”
Describing hard drugs to be destructive process among the youths, Emmanuel Happy blamed the increasing use of hard drugs among the youths on parents who have no time to size up their children rather encouraging them to get more involved.
He called on the students of the higher institutions across the state to steer clear of hard drugs, noting that it has nothing to offer them apart from altering their sanity.
He said: ” Those who take these hard drugs have questionable character, especially after taking the drugs, Things they cannot contemplate on normal days, they would do with ease only to regret their actions later, hard drugs will not make any body Intelligent, neither will it increase marks in the Schools, and appealed to federal and State government to do everything possible that will put a stop to it.”