The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Anambra State, Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has warned youths to refrain from consuming hard drugs such as Methamphetamine, popularly known as Mkpurummiri.

Ezeokafor lamented that the substance was destroying the life and career of South-East youths.

The cleric said this in Awka on Monday, during the silver jubilee celebration of St Theresa Catholic Church, Ifiteani, Enugwu-Ukwu.

He attributed the rise in cases of the drug to peer pressure by the youths and advised parents to monitor the type of company their children keep.

He said, “There is a new hard drug in town, it is called Methamphetamine or Mkpurummiri. It destroys human beings and it is very difficult to rehabilitate a person indulged in it.

“I believe God who created us has mission for all of us. I call on youths to refrain from hard drugs and toe the line of what will make them responsible. They engage in this drug because they want to show power and this is destroying them.

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“I urge parents to lay good foundation for their children because some lack parents’ care and get addicted. Every society that wants to make meaningful impact must take care of the young people. The youths should get closer to God and parents should give them more attention.”

The CEO of Dangana Global Limited, Chief Emmanuel Atuegbu, while commending the Bishop for his selfless service to the people, stated that Mkpurummiri has become a global problem that needed urgent attention to save the lives of the youths.

“The hard drugs intake will not lead the youths to anywhere but rather destroy them. The youths should embrace God. Mkpurummiri will destroy you. It is search for quick money that causes the youths to take the hard drugs that will eventually destroy and. kill them,” Atuegbu stated.

The chairman, Catholic Men Organisation, Chief Reginald Okoye, blamed parents for the increase in the consumption of Mkpurummiri, adding that, “children watch some of their parents who take the drug and they in turn also take it.”

Okoye added, “Men and women are involve now in taking the drug, it is now a global problem. Parents should try to get the mindset of the youths corrected. Bad company is major cause of the addiction and the youths think what they take makes them happy and high.”