Mr Eze Ude, State Coordinator, International Society for Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP), said that Ebonyi was being rated highest in substance abuse among states of the federation.
Ude disclosed this to newsmen on Friday during conclusion of a three-day workshop.
The workshop was organized by officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the National Association of Patent Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) in Abakaliki.
According to him, the state is rated above 13 per cent in the act of drug abuse, according to United Nations’ statistics.
Ude who is also a Clinical Psychologist at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, and Chief Executive Officer of Brain Care Foundation said the problem had contributed significantly in mental health of the society.
He said that large number of young men and women at the hospital were usually seen on daily basis going down as a result of drug abuse.
He added that the abuse was in addition to other mental related problems associated with substance use.
He, however, advised that people should understand its effect and stop the practice.
He further charged NAPPMED members, who are grassroots health care givers, and other stakeholders to synergize towards fight against the trend to avoid other problems emanating from the act.
