Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2005 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Author: Iyefu Adoba

'CURB DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS'

The Annual Report of the International Narcotics Board, (INCB), a 
comprehensive survey of the drug-control situation in the world released 
yesterday, has called on African governments to address drug related 
problems while it also requests the international community to provide 
support for states in the region in order to combat drug trafficking and abuse.

Presenting the report in Abuja, the representative of United Nations Office 
on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Paul Salav noted the increasing use of drugs in 
Nigeria and said a baseline survey of Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt, 
indicated that if governments do not act fast the practices could indeed 
worsen the spread of HIV/AIDS on the continent.

"Today with more than 200 million people are abusing drugs worldwide and 
with the abuse of drugs comes myriad of new societal problems like 
increased crime and violence, unemployment, broken families and the spread 
of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis" said Salav.

The report however commended Nigeria and South Africa for developing highly 
effective systems to prevent the diversion of chemicals into illicit 
channels, noting that in 2004 a shipment of 40 tones of potassium 
permanaganate, a chemical needed for the illicit manufacture of cocaine 
from the United States to Nigeria was stopped.

Also as a result of cooperation among law enforcement agencies 
participating in the West African Joint Operations, an initiative of the 
Nigerian Government led to the seizure of more that 140 kilograms of 
cocaine in Cotonou, 600 kilogrammes of cocaine in Ghana and 450 kilograms 
off the coast of Togo amongst others.

In his welcome address, UNODC representative Paul Salav underscoring the 
importance of drug control activities said drug addiction remains one of 
the greatest threats to society today. According to him, the problem is 
made worse through globalization which permits drugs to move across 
international borders.

The report also considered the problem of illicit sales of controlled 
substances through internet pharmacies which has also increased and called 
on states to collaborate with internet service providers and 
pharmaceuticals and chemical industries to put and end to this.

Salav lamented the lack of counselling, treatment and rehabilitation 
facilities for drug abusers; he however said in recognition of this lack 
UNODC has assisted 14 treatment centers across the country.
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