By Yahaya Idris, Asaba
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned secondary school students in Delta State against experimenting with illicit drugs, stressing that curiosity and peer pressure could expose young people to serious social and personal consequences.
The warning was issued during the second phase of the Drug-Free Delta Campaign, which continued on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Osubi Secondary School, Osubi; Unity School, Agbarho; and Kokori Mixed Secondary School.
The sensitisation programme is being implemented by the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications in collaboration with the NDLEA.
Speaking to the students, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Mr. Ojobo Augustine, explained that drugs could affect the body’s normal functions, particularly the central nervous system and the brain.
He said the misuse of substances could affect students’ judgment, behaviour, academic performance and relationships.
According to him, some psychological effects associated with drug abuse may include hallucinations, paranoia and irrational or anti-social behaviour.
Ojobo particularly cautioned students against the mentality of trying a substance “just once.”
“Do not taste it. It is from tasting that you become a user,” he warned.
He urged the students to understand that avoiding illicit drugs is not only about obeying the law but also about protecting their education, relationships, ambitions and future.
The NDLEA representative also explained the distinction between prevention, intervention and rehabilitation.
He said primary prevention involves awareness and sensitisation, while secondary intervention involves professional assistance and therapy.
Tertiary intervention, he added, includes rehabilitation for people experiencing severe substance-use problems.
The students were encouraged to seek help when necessary rather than conceal drug-related problems or allow peer pressure to dictate their decisions.
Earlier, the Director of Orientation, representing the Director-General of the State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Mrs. Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh, urged the students to take responsibility for their choices.
She said the campaign was designed to provide young people with knowledge that would help them make informed decisions.
The engagements also featured interactive question-and-answer sessions, allowing students to ask questions about drug abuse, prevention and its effects.
The programme concluded with an anti-drug chant and the introduction of the NDLEA’s toll-free reporting line, 080010203040, for members of the public to report suspicious activities associated with illicit drugs.
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The NDLEA officially lists the helpline as +234-80010203040.
The campaign’s “If You See Something, Say Something” message further encouraged students and members of the school communities to remain vigilant.
The Drug-Free Delta Campaign is expected to continue its expansion in October to universities and other higher institutions across the three senatorial districts of the state.