Experts have stressed the need for the Nigerian youths to replace negative addictions with positive attributes in a bid to better their lots by becoming responsible and accountable adults, Punch Newspaper reports.
The experts spoke at the 2021 Shining Stars Initiative International Summit with the theme, ‘Addictions: The ways out.’
A lecturer at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Dr Tayo Ajayi, said at the forum that the government needed to tackle the emerging substance abuse, stressing that “For government, I will recommend that we look more into emerging substances abuse.”
“There are so many of them now and we have the control of the agency working towards ensuring a society free of addiction. Yet, there are several other emerging substances abuse that the youths are into that nobody knows about.”
“Government should be on top of the game for awareness and make the control stricter in getting these substances available so that we don’t run the risk of losing our future.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Digitalwox Creative Lab Limited, Mr Ayo Oke, while speaking on, ‘Way out on Cyber/Internet addictions,’ enjoined the youths to spend their time wisely and be self-disciplined.
He said, “The effects of cyber addiction are damaged relationships, finances, exposure to risk and disinterest in vital life issues.”
The Managing Director of Troy Health, Mr Tunde Bakare, however, urged the youths to be a dream addict to become successful in life.
Bakare said positive addictions included hard work, discipline, being principled and the ability to persevere as well as taking risks in order to achieve one’s dream.
“No risk no reward. Those who have achieved real success have often risked the most to get there,” he said.
The Convener of the Summit, Mrs Omokehinde Deji-Akinpelu, a registered engineer advised parents and guardians on the causes of sex addiction, saying, “Addictions are not only caused by peer influence/pressure, also tendency to explore by the teenagers. “
