The National Vice-President, Ohaneze Ndigbo Women wing, Mrs Amaka Ikwuka,has called on mothers to join hands together to fight against the menace of methamphetamine among Igbo youths.
She made the call during an interview with the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS,in Awka.
Methamphetamine or crystal meth is a highly addictive street drug that affects the central nervous system.
They are made as pills, powder or chunky crystals known in local parlance as ice,tina,glass or mkpurummili in Igbo language.
Findings revealed that the drug has side effects that can be severe and damaging in both the short and long term and can sometimes result in death.
Mrs Ikwuka described the street drug as a canker worm which has eaten very deep into our society.
She asked mothers to use every strategy at their disposal, devoid of violence, to talk to their children about the dangers of the drug.
Mrs Ikwuka pointed out that the drug can make the user to run mad, noting that when one runs mad,even after rehabilitation, the stigma is not what any sensible person will wish for his or her family.
In his remarks, a representative of the Ohaneze Ndigbo youth wing, Comrade Onyedika Eweh, said the youth wing of the body is all out to deal with the menace among youths.
He also appealed to religious bodies, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, governments through the ministry of youth to partner with them to sensitize the youth on the health implications of “mkpurummili.”
He advised his fellow youths who are engaged in the use of the drug to stop forthwith for their own good.
According to American Addiction Centre, physical deteriorating of methamphetamine can be very rapid in chronic users.
The damage associated with chronic abuse of meth may not be fully reversible.
It also added that individuals may suffer significant organ damage and even brain damage as a result of abuse of the drug.
