Dr. Julia Ogwunga, Chief Medical Director of a private
hospital in Owerri has urged the Federal Government to tackle unemployment,
saying that it will go a long way toward reducing the prevalence rate of mental
disorder and suicide, especially among youths.
Ogwunga, who made the call in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Saturday,
stressed that mental disorder, drug abuse, and suicide were on rapid
increase compared to what it was in the past.
“The government, as a matter of urgency, should come back to
the table and address these societal challenges and pay proper attention to the
younger generation.
“We are having more cases of mental disorder and substance
abuse in our hospital more than before and those involved are young adults within
the ages of 17 to 40 years.
“What the substances, especially cannabis, do is to take
over the function of the brain; it takes over those things that give one
pleasure.
“Cannabis rewires the brain so that the only thing that
would give it pleasure is the drug, which is cannabis.
“The person spends all his time searching for substances and
nothing else matters.
“School doesn’t matter, family doesn’t matter, work or
friends don’t matter anymore,” she said.
The CMD then urged the youth to say no to substance use as
it could drive them far away from their dreams and destroy their lives.
Ogwunga added that the youth could survive regardless of
their current economic situation occasioned by joblessness and become good
ambassadors of their families and communities. (NAN)
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