Lawmaker representing Saki East and Atisbo Constituency at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Riliwan Gbadamosi popularly known as Wale Canada, has called on youths across the state and Nigeria at large to stay away from drug abuse.
Wale Canada identified drug abuse as a major cause of mental illness.
He made this clarion call while responding to questions from journalists yesterday after the House ordered the Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Community Development to immediately evacuate all destitutes under Mokola flyover and other areas.
“The alarming increase of destitutes in our state is becoming worrisome and there is an urgent need for proactive measures in combating the menace”. he said.
The legislator attributed the alarming increase of people with mental disorder in our society on the prevalence of drug abuse and misuse among youths and lack of adequate awareness against the menace.
He further noted that most of the mentally ill people seen on the streets are not victims of spiritual attacks as often believe but results of drug addiction.
He added that the rate of mental illness can be reduced drastically through effective preventive programs that involves the family, schools, communities and the media.
