Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 2004
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2004 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Author: Jonah Achema

WHEN HOPE RISES AMID DESPAIR

Lagos

A drug dependent person can be treated, rehabilitated and reintegrated into 
the society to be useful once again, speakers at the recently celebrated 
United Nations Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Abuse said. Jonah 
Achema who was there writes

The mammoth crowd spoke volumes. People from all walks of life, top 
government functionaries, members of the diplomatic corps, security chiefs, 
youths, transport and tourism workers, religious and Traditional leaders, 
counsellors, social workers and experts all converged at the Women 
Development Centre in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on June 25, 2004 
for formal presentations on the double barrelled scourges of drug 
trafficking and abuse.

The event itself was the grand finale of a week long series of activities 
put together by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in 
conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and relevant 
stake holders to mark the 2004 United Nations Day Against illict Drug 
traffficking and abuse.

As the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Alhaji Bello Lafiaji noted in 
his presentation at the event, Nigeria had always joined all other nations 
of the world in commemorating the United Nations Anti-drug Day. But 2004 
was marked with a difference because of the enthusiastic turn out of the 
populace. And this was understandable. In previous years, emphasis of the 
celebration had been on preventive measures. But for the first time, this 
year was a departure. The theme of the year's celebration " Drugs: 
Treatment Works" was as unique as it was one big statement of faith, 
courage and hope for the hopeless.

The highlights of this year's occasion were drama presentations by the 
Abuja Cultural Troupe, secondary schools within the Federal Capital 
Territory; anti-drug songs by school children, and testimonies by 
rehabilitated youths who had suffered injuries by the deadly narcotics: 
cocaine, heroine, marijuana, amongst others.

Lafiaji, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, in a keynote address, 
demonstrated his deep interest to save the youth of Nigeria, whom according 
to him are at risk in drug abuse and trafficking.

According to him, the event was a unique one because it focused on drug 
dependent persons in Nigeria. Lafiaji believe that Drug dependence is a 
health problem that requires treatment. "The treatment of drug dependent 
persons can be effective and possible just like every other ailment," the 
drug (NDLEA boss stated.

He explained that in Nigeria, treatment of drug dependent persons is always 
cumbersome due to factors of non-availability of appropriate treatment 
centres, the lukewarm attitude of the drug addicts to go for treatment and 
lack of belief in the efficacy of such treatment.

He is, however, worried by the high rate of patients admitted into the 
mental health institutions for drug related cases. This group, he said are 
the youth. "It is worthy of note here that majority of the patients 
admitted into mental institutions for drug related problems are youths in 
their productive years", he regretted.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney- General Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi was 
not less concerned about the drug menace. He revealed the dangerous signals 
waiting for any nation that fails to fight drug abuse and trafficking.

" Any nation that fails to fight the drug menace is at risk of destroying 
itself." "Drugs destroy the nation by stopping optimal productivity, drugs 
give the nation a negative image and drugs discourage foreign investment", 
he said.

The justice minister suggested how to control the supply and demand for 
drugs. According to him, aggressive campaigns, seminars, workshops that 
educate the public on the dangers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic 
substances should be pursued with all the vigour.

He called for care, rehabilitation, social reintegration and education of 
addicts, promotion of the welfare of convicts and designing of cultural 
relevant drug demand and reduction policies.

But the most difficult question on the lips of the crowd at the event was. 
"Does treatment work?". Hope Obianwu, Professor of Pharrnacology and 
Director, Nigerian Training Course on Drug Abuse, Department of 
Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Benin said there are evidences 
that treatment have worked, effectively.

He explained that most of the treatment centres are establishing ways that 
would assist them evaluate the result of their treatment. Obianwu backed up 
his argurnent with the recent survey conducted by the UNODC at the various 
rehabilitation centres.

"The effectiveness of treatment of drug abuse associated problems cannot be 
adequately evaluated in Nigeria today because of inadequate facilities", 
the professor noted while calling for improvement in the facilities for 
effective demand reduction activities, research programmes in 
epidemiological rehabilitation, prevention and treatment, adequate data for 
planning and implementation for effective demand reduction programmes.

On the part of the agency, there are facts and figures to show that 
treatment, works. In the past three years for instance, the agency has 
recorded not fewer than two thousand cases of drug dependent persons been 
successfully counselled, treated, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into 
society, while many more are still undergoing similar treatment.

In 2000 for instance, 321 cases of drug abuse was reported and handled, but 
this climbed to 499 cases in 2001 and 1133 cases in 2002, while 2003 stood 
at 943 cases.

One fact that was, however, not lost on the audience was the fact that 
prevention is, no doubt, better than treatment or even cure. This is 
principally because the chances of recovery are not 100 per cent, medically.

Besides, while the drug dependent person could be cured of the immediate 
mental imbalance, there are some other associated illnesses arising from 
drug abuse, such as HIV/AIDS, that have far reaching effects because of 
their incurability.

This is aside from the high costs of treatment of drug dependent persons. 
These are avoidable costs, which are not only unaffordable to most people, 
but if saved, could as well be used for development and sustainable living. 
Unfortunately, the cost of drug abuse extends beyond the individual as it 
translates to social costs, such as productivity losses and the costs of 
all component parts of the criminal justice system designed to protect the 
public. It is against this background that the Agency is working tirelessly 
to sustain its preventive measures anchored on Drug Demand Reduction, on 
the one hand, and Drug Supply measures, on the other.
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