The Ondo State Committee on Drug Control on Tuesday warned pregnant women to desist from drug abuse, saying that it could lead to imbecility in their expected children.
The committee stated this while sensitising some pregnant women on dangers of drug abuse at the Primary Health Clinic, Moferere, Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The programme was sponsored by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Mr Olafusi Omotiba, a member of the state Committee on Drug Control, at the sensitisation, explained that imbecility was neither spiritual attack nor a family curse.
“There is linkage between the mothers and babies in their wombs. Therefore, any wrong use of drugs will have effects on the mothers and their babies.
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“That is why we have imbecile children or children with deformity. It is not a spiritual attack nor family curse. It is caused by adverse effects of drug abuse.
“And please, taking of herbal medicine of which its contents cannot be proved is drug abuse,” he said.
Omotiba, a pharmacist, added that pregnant women should consult their doctors or nurses at the government approved facilities before taking any drug.
He noted that ignorance, bad company, depression and stress were some of the causes of drug abuse.
According to him, the society is bedevilled with criminalities because of high rate of drug abuse.
“Wrong use of drug can also cause misbehaviour, premature delivery which ultimately affects child brain and so on.
“A sane person will not dare to kill his fellow human beings,” he stated.
Mrs Yetunde Jeyifous, Assistant Commander of Narcotics Drug Demand Reduction Unit, NDLEA, Ondo State Command, noted that research revealed that drug abuse could result to excessive bleeding during child delivery.
Jeyifous said drug abuse could also affect the child soundness of mind in his childhood.
She advocated self-discipline among pregnant women to stay away from drug abuse.
“How do we avoid drug abuse? We should be determined not to be involved in it and we can engage in body exercise to make us healthy.
“Also, we should avoid stress and tension that can lure us into drug abuse.
“In fact, we should avoid and erase all thoughts from our minds likely to encourage drug abuse at all times,” she advised. (NAN)