Imo govt marks International Day of Drug Abuse …Promises to prioritize prevention

By Jude Onyenedogha…

Imo State Government and stakeholders have joined countries and states, world over to mark the 2024 edition of the annual International Day of Drug Abuse, with the theme: “Evidence is clear, invest in prevention”.

Addressing newsmen and stakeholders in his office last Friday, as part of activities to commemorate the event, Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Prosper Ohayagha said the programme is marked on June 26 every year. He said the theme for this year underscores the urgent need to prioritize prevention in the global fight against drug abuse which has far reaching negative consequences, as the detrimental impact on individuals, families and society at large is undeniable.

He said by investing in evidence based prevention strategies, the stakeholders can achieve reduced demand for drugs, adding that comprehensive enlightenment to young people, informed by scientific data will significantly help to deter them from initiating drug use.

According to Ohayagha, drug abuse and illicit trafficking promotes violent crimes, disrupts social cohesion and strains social services, placing an enormous economic burden on healthcare systems.

He called for all hands to be on deck in the fight against the societal menace, by; “Empowering our youths, open communication about drugs by stakeholders. We must break the stigma surrounding addiction. By investing in prevention, we can create a society with fewer individuals falling victims to the destructive  consequences of drug abuse.

Adding his voice, the Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Secondary and Tertiary Health Care Management, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ubaka, described drug abuse as big public health issue.

Prof. Ubaka emphasized on the need to fucus on tackling the driving force of drug abuse, as according to him, a recent research they carried out showed that more females were going into substances abuse and reason is because they have male partners who are into drug abuse.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Austin Ekeji, welcomed all the stakeholders, expressing optimism that the sensitization programmes will add a boost to the fight against illicit drug abuse in the state.

In their separate remarks,  the State Commander of NDLEA, Abdulahi Squeed (Commander of Narcotics) and the Deputy State Commander, Operations and Training, Lamuwa Shehu, highlighted some of the programmes and activities the agency had been carrying out in its concerted fight against drug/substances abuse in Imo State, such as; Seminars and Workshops, sensitization programmes in Schools, Communities and Churches, as well as stakeholders engagement programmes.

According to them, while traffickers and dealers are investigated and prosecuted in Courts when arrested, users who they described as people who are already challenged and need help, are taken through cancelling and other rehabilitation processes and discharged at the end of the processes.

They used the opportunity to once more appreciate the wife of Imo State Governor, Barr Chioma Uzodimma, who  renovated and furnished their rehabilitation center at their Aba Road state headquarters, for both males and females and upgraded it to  20 bed capacity.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, of the Ministry, Pharmacist Lady Uche Mmaduike said the Ministry of Health collaborates with many stakeholders, such as Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and NDLEA, adding, “We go to the field to sensitize the masses on the dangers of drug abuse.

“The hazardous effects are so many. It is the reason we have a lot of organ damages, kidney failures, skisophremia. You have people exhibiting all manner of abnormal behaviours. And that is why the rate of kidnapping and criminality is increasing by the day, because the perpetrators of such crimes work under the influence of hard drugs and substances”.