National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed on Tuesday, June 28, that about 3 million Nigerians are suffering from Drug Use Disorder as a result of Cannabis, Meth and other dangerous drugs consumption.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa added that this include cases of addicted children killing their parents over refusal to give them funds to buy drugs and couples chasing each other with knives for the kill, after getting high on drugs being recorded in certain instances.
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Marwa made this known at the opening of a workshop on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) for Governor’s Wives in Abuja.
He said;
This is the findings of a recent drugs survey which suggests that 1 in 5 persons (of approximately 3 million Nigerians) who had used drugs was suffering from Drug Use Disorder, with no less than 155, 000 among them in dire need of medical treatment, at this time.
The situation is not altogether irredeemable. Indeed, the situation can be salvaged, reversed and controlled―only if we move quickly, and adopt strong, well-conceived, coordinated and holistic measures, of which this workshop is a part of the process.
He further reinforced the importance of the workshop.
The Drug Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) training is designed to enhance the capacities of stakeholders to implement evidence-based drug prevention education programmes, as well as enhance accessibility of treatment and care for those with Substance Use Disorder and also facilitate their social reintegration where and when necessary.
Marwa continued;
There have been a series of DPTC training, but this one is historic as an indication of the resolution by the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum to play a key role in the country’s renewed war against drugs.
This workshop is of great significance to the strategic effort to control the abuse, trafficking and consequences of illicit drugs in our country. The objective, in the end, is to improve our skills and optimize our capacity to counter the drug phenomenon.
According to him:
Just last year, the World Drug Report 2021 warned of a likely 11% increase in the number of people who abuse illicit substances over the next eight years.
About 40% of that increase is projected to come from Africa alone. When they say Africa, we should think of Nigeria, the most populous country on the continent.
These are the bases for our renewed effort to muzzle the illicit drug problem quickly and pre-empt what could, in the nearest future, become a full-blown epidemic and a new problem area for the continent and our country.
This year, as at the end of May, NDLEA has seized approximately 155, 000 kilograms of drugs and recorded 5, 341 arrests and 984 convictions.
Marwa concluded with;
This is relatively high compared to the annual global average of 5.5%. That we have 14.3 million of our compatriots who abused drugs is food for thought.
From January 2021 to May 2022, a total of 11, 523 drug users have been counselled and treated in NDLEA facilities mostly through brief interventions.
Still, we devote equal resources, energy and enthusiasm to Drug Use Prevention, which is calculated to shield the vulnerable groups, especially youths, from experimenting with illicit substances.
