Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said there is direct relationship between drug addiction and increase in crime and criminality in the country.

Diri stated this in Yenagoa during sensitisation walk/campaign against drug abuse to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

This is as a Rear Admiral Jason Gbasa, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters Abuja, urged young people to embrace education and shun drugs as quick ways to get quick wealth, saying sound education remained the only sure way for better life.

He stated this in Igbedi Kolokuma/Opokuma Council of Bayelsa during the funeral service for his mother in-law, Mrs Margaret Pere, at the weekend.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said that in a bid to address the menace of drug abuse, his government constituted Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee with well qualified personnel in the field.

He said: “I have always said that crime and criminality have an inverse relationship. If you look at the statistics of criminal and gang activities across our country, you will discover that most of those involved in crime and criminality are drug addicts.

“We cannot afford to waste the lives of the underprivileged. Our youths are golden to us. As a government, we have come to that realisation and that is why we set up this committee made up of professional and committed members that have continued to sensitise the populace and our youths to move away from drug, crime and criminality and embrace the good life.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that even those that are addicted will soon have a place of rehabilitation. Your state government is building a rehabilitation centre in Ogbia Local Government Area.”

Diri also cautioned politicians against influencing youths negatively on illicit drug use, urging them to desist from inhumane acts or be ready to face the consequences.

In her opening remarks, chairperson of the committee, Dr. Faith Zibs-Godwin, noted that the UN General Assembly in 1987 decided to observe every June 26 as international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking as an expression of its determination to achieve its goal of a society free from drug abuse.

Mrs. Zibs-Godwin stressed that the motive of this year’s theme, which is “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis” was to raise role models that will help others live a normal life and empower them to deal with life’s challenges.