Experts Urge Mountain Top University Students to Shun Drug Abuse, Embrace Compassion
Experts from the Mountain Top University Rehabilitation Centre have cautioned students against drug abuse, emphasizing the need for a compassionate approach over criminalisation in tackling the issue.
Speaking during a public lecture titled “Compassion Above Criminalisation” on Thursday, Mr. Olugbenga Taiwo, a team member of the university’s rehabilitation centre, highlighted the importance of understanding and support for individuals battling substance abuse.
The lecture was organised in collaboration with the university’s Directorate of Apprenticeship and Community Relations to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drugs Day.
Taiwo explained the difference between the punitive and rehabilitative approaches, stressing that while the criminalisation model relies on punishments such as expulsion, fines, and imprisonment, a compassion-driven method aims to help individuals rebuild their lives.
“The criminalisation approach imposes penalties like prosecution and detention,” he noted. “But with compassion, you help a person redeem themselves and reintegrate into society. That must be the road we take.”
He urged students to adopt the compassion-based model when dealing with friends, family, or peers struggling with drug abuse.
Also speaking, the Director of Apprenticeship and Community Relations, Dr. Omolola Omosebi, said the university is actively working to curb drug abuse through sensitisation programmes and the enforcement of guiding rules.
“The school is doing its best. Programmes like this help students understand the dangers out there and how to avoid them,” she said in an interview with reporters “We are also helping them develop spiritually, understand societal expectations, and adhere to rules. These measures collectively discourage substance abuse.”
Dr. Omosebi further expressed confidence that with continued awareness, students would make better choices, avoid harmful substances, and value the sacrifices of their parents and guardians.
In his remarks, the Team Leader of the Rehabilitation Centre, Mr. Olusola Tejuosho, underscored the global significance of World Drugs Day, saying it serves to educate the public about the risks of drug use and trafficking.
“It’s a day established by the United Nations to create awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking,” he stated.
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The event concluded with a renewed call for compassion, education, and community support in the fight against drug abuse.
