Write an article, for publication in a national newspaper, on the dangers of drug abuse among youths.

Answer Details

How to approach this question: This is a newspaper article. It requires a catchy title, the writer's name below the title (by-line), an introduction that states the problem, well-developed paragraphs on the dangers, and a concluding call to action. No address or salutation is needed. Below is a model answer.

DRUG ABUSE: THE SILENT KILLER OF OUR YOUTHS

By Ngozi Okafor

Across the length and breadth of our nation, a silent enemy is destroying the flower of our youth. That enemy is drug abuse, the misuse of substances such as Indian hemp, cocaine, tramadol, codeine and other harmful substances. Day after day, promising young men and women are wasting away because they have fallen into this deadly trap. It is high time the whole society woke up to the dangers that lie ahead.

The first and most obvious danger of drug abuse is the destruction of health. Hard drugs damage the brain, the heart, the liver and the lungs. Many addicts have lost their sanity and now roam the streets as a pitiable sight, while others have died in the prime of life. No amount of pleasure is worth such a price.

Secondly, drug abuse ruins the future of the youth. A student who takes to drugs loses concentration, fails his examinations and eventually drops out of school. The dreams of the parents who laboured to train him are dashed, and society loses a mind that might have become a doctor, an engineer or a leader.

Thirdly, drug abuse fuels crime and violence. Under the influence of these substances, young people commit armed robbery, rape, cultism and even murder. Many of the atrocities reported daily in the media are traceable to minds that have been poisoned by drugs.

Finally, drug abuse brings shame and sorrow to families. The addict becomes a burden and a source of endless grief to his parents, and the good name of the family is dragged in the mud.

What must be done? Parents must watch over their children and teach them the dangers of drugs early. Schools should intensify enlightenment campaigns, while government must strengthen the agencies fighting the drug trade and provide rehabilitation centres for victims. Above all, our youths must learn to say a firm "No" to drugs.

The battle against drug abuse is a battle for the survival of our nation. If we fail to act now, we may wake up to find that we have lost an entire generation. The time to save our youths is now.