NDLEA focuses on adolescents, parents

National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday revealed that this year’s world Drug Day would focus on adolescents and how to use parents to check drug abuse among youths. 

This was declared at NDLEA Ikoyi’s office, the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on drug control, as it commenced its preparation towards the commemoration of 2016 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking holding on June 26.
The NDLEA Director- General (DG), Mrs. Roli Bode-George, who presided over the meeting, said the theme of the commemoration was on evidence-based drug abuse prevention with the slogan: ‘Listen First.’
She said: “We are targeting adolescents at age 14. Children are the most vulnerable. We are thinking of ways to enlighten and reduce intake of drugs among adolescents. When you educate and counsel, it goes a long way to help. We need to watch out for our kids.” Bode-George identified synergy among stakeholders as the major achievement of the current Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).
She added: “The agency has recorded great success in the implementation of the Drug Control Master Plan. Most significant is the high level of synergy among stakeholders. Drug trafficking is a thriving business and a serious issue in Nigeria that requires strong, concerted control efforts.
To effectively address the challenge of drug abuse in Nigeria, sensitisation, advocacy and prevention programmes remain vital.” The DG said that community- based surveys had revealed that cannabis was the most produced, trafficked and abused drug in the country.
Heroin and cocaine use has also been reported mainly in Lagos and other cosmopolitan state capitals while use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) is predominant in the northern part, she added. Bode-George said that Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs), however, constituted one of the most at risk groups for HIV infections in Nigeria. She added: “NDLEA between 2010 and 2014 covered an average of 1,000 schools annually in drug use prevention enlightenment.”
A director in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Isaac Idu, said that the office of the NSA would support the fight against drug control.
Corps Commander, Oladunni Olaniyan and Corps Medical Rescue Officer with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), said that the commission was actively involved in drug control programmes. Olaniyan said: “FRSC is partnering with NDLEA because when people take drugs and drive, they constitute a serious threat to lives and property.” Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Celine Onunkwo said that her ministry commended the efforts of the NDLEA in reducing drug trafficking in Nigeria.https://newtelegraphonline.com/ndlea-focuses-adolescents-parents/