Education
A NGO, the Dora-Care Behavioural Foundation, has called on parents to rise to their responsibilities of monitoring and guiding their children to shield them from deviant behaviours, including drug abuse and addiction.
The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Feyikemi Akinyelure, made the call during an informative class with parents in commemoration of the “2020 World Drug Day” on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, is celebrated annually on June 26.
The theme of the World Drug Day 2020 is “Better Knowledge for Better Care.”
Akinyelure said that this year’s theme was aimed at improving the understanding of the world drug problem and at fostering greater international cooperation for countering its impact on health, governance and security.
According to her, the class focussed on educating parents and giving them insights on what to watch out for in their children to save them from deviant behaviours.
Akinyelure added that the insights would also safeguard children from being influenced negatively by peers to drug abuse and addictions.
She said that parents were the first line of defence in successful efforts to prevent substance abuse by youths.
The foundation chief executive officer noted that research indicated that young people who reported strong ties with their parents and families were significantly less likely to engage in risky behaviour, including substance abuse.
Akinyelure, therefore, called on parents to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that they monitor the kind of friends their children relate with, keeping a close watch on their activities and changes in behaviour.
“Majority of the children/youths who get involved in drug abuse do not know the implications of what they are doing, rather, they take it because their friends or peers are taking.
“As a parent, always monitor your children closely to know when they are getting involved with drugs because drug abuse is a secret habit which may be difficult to identify.
“But, if a parent is close or friendly with his/her child, having established good relationship with the child, such parent will be able to know when the child is going astray or getting involved in illicit drugs.
“The moment a child starts school (either primary or secondary), try and keep a watch on him or her and monitor their daily activities.
“If they have a phone, try to know their contacts and the kind of conversations they keep with their friends, and if possible try to know their friends in person, including the families of their friends,” she said.
Contributing, a Therapist and Mental Health Advocate, Mrs Angela Bekederemo, said that good monitoring helps parents to discourage antisocial behaviour and encourage prosocial behaviour in children.
Bekederemo said that parents who responded in a comforting way and provide emotional support and a safe environment for their children build a secure “Parent-Child attachment relationship”.
She said that this was one of the foundations of many positive outcomes.
According to her, the quality of the parent-child relationship is very important in raising children in a drug culture society; a society where the availability and accessibility of drug is easier than getting clean water for use.
“Discipline should be with care and love; a child should be made to understand what he/she did wrong and why he/she is being punished.
“Always balance correction with love; when punishment is too harsh or weak, discipline loses its purpose.
“And this makes it difficult for parents to manage children; which often triggers parents to hitting, spanking, slapping or using hard verbal criticism,” she said.
Bekederemo listed some risk factors of drug abuse to include: early aggressive behaviour, little or no parental supervision, peer drug and alcohol abuse, availability and accessibility of drugs and low income among others.
Also, Mrs Vickie Ajayi, a Parent, attributed drug abuse largely to lack of proper parental upbringing, as many parents were too busy to render adequate parental care to their children.
According to her, there is a need for increased awareness and education of parents on their parental responsibilities and the effects of illicit drugs.
Ajayi added that ignorance of the debilitating impact of drugs contributed a lot to increased drug abuse in society. (NAN)
– Jun. 26, 2020 @ 16:35 GMT |
Tags: NGO tasks parents on proper upbringing of children
