The Ogun State Government has called on stakeholders to join hands with the government in the fight against drug abuse, describing the menace as detrimental to sustainable societal development.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adesanya Ayinde, who made this known at a Town Hall meeting at Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive College, Ota, said abuse of illicit drugs among youths had become a growing concern for the government, saying it has diverse and devastating effects on the society.

Represented by the Coordinator, Ogun State Drug Control Committee (OSDCC), Pharmacist Bolajoko Igbagbo, Ayinde revealed that aside from developing chronic physical and mental health conditions, abusers of drugs are prone to violent, crimes and other vices.

The Permanent Secretary, said the government through OSSDC had taken bull by the horns, noting that sensitisation against the menace was ongoing in schools, markets, motor parks, communities, religious houses and others, with the focus of taming drug abuse, particularly among the young people.

Ayinde stated that the meeting, which had been organised in other parts of the State, was to assemble relevant stakeholders and discuss ways to tackle drug abuse with the aim of stalling the growth of the menace in the coming years.

In his goodwill message, the Zonal Education Officer, Ota, Mr. Ganiu Agboola said crime rate would drop drastically overtime if parents pay more attention to the welfare of their children, calling for more awareness on the dangers inherent in drug abuse.