As the number of young girls in Nigeria who are drug abusers is increasing, an expert nutritionist and girls’ rights advocate, Miss Obianuju Onuorah, has given reasons these and more girls and women are in this sorry state.
Platforms Africa has earlier reported that data released by United Nations agency says 3.575 million of Nigerian girls and women are drug abusers.
Speaking at the weekly e-Discourse organised by Platforms Africa forum created by award-winning African journalist, Adeola Yusuf, Onuorah said that the huge figure did not get to her and many unawares
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“Not a surprising statistics as the adolescent years are the most significant years of development, years critical to a young woman’s health and success later down the road,” the lead discussant at the event declared.
Some factors I believe may be responsible for these, she continued, include;
“Depression and Mental Illnesses: Substance abuse and mental illnesses such as depression often go hand-in-hand. Young women who are depressed and suicidal often self-medicate with drugs of abuse, increasing their risk of drug addiction.
“History of Trauma: Girls who have been physically or sexually abused are more likely to use drugs than those who were not abused in childhood.
“Stress and Inability to Cope: Young women can have a tendency to internalize their reactions to stress. Stressful life events may include a death or illness in family or friends, parental divorce, changes in school or relationships, and moving from home to home. These things can make them turn to drug use.
“Low Self-Esteem: Some women associate drinking, drug use, and smoking with being sexy, trendy, and cool.
*Social Pressures: Many young girls initiate drug use to fit in with their peers.
“Other factors include lack of parent-child communication, academic pressures etc. I think the possible causes are varying from one young woman to another.”
Hielding questions from the Accra, Ghana-based veteran journalist who moderated the event, Mr. Francis KOKUTSE, Onuorah outlined steps to be taken by those who genuinely want to quit drug or cigarettes.
“As I earlier mentioned in one of the questions you asked, therapy is always the first line of action that I would recommend for anyone going through substance abuse.
“Nutrition will come in play with some of the recommendations I already mentioned in the last two questions you asked. Food itself will not directly help a person quit drug use. It would help with improving nutritional status, mood, appetite, improvement in nerve functions which would in turn impact on their substance use and help them get better.
“I would advise on general recommendations on here as the nutrition care plan for anyone who is having substance abuse is personalised so it’s best to always consult a nutritionist.
“I would not advise on general recommendations,” she concluded.
