10% percent Kaduna citizens suffer drug abuse – KADBUSA
Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA), has revealed that 10% of Kaduna state citizens have drug abuse problem, while creating a linkage between drug abuse and violence.
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The Director General of KADBUSA, Dr. Joseph Maigari, stated this on Thursday during an advocacy visit to Agwatyap at his palace in Zango Kataf.
He said Nigeria has drug abuse prevalence of 14.4% hence the decision by Kaduna state government to carry out sensitisation across the state to ensure reduction of demand and supply of illicit drugs by youth and women and reduction in drug abuse.
The visit was followed by a sensitisation meeting with over 50 members of the Atyap traditional council, district heads, village heads and other stakeholders’ visit to District Head of Zango and advocacy visit to Zango Kataf market.
“We are here because of the concern of Kaduna state Governor about peoples behaviour with effect of drug in the Atyap Chiefdom.
“There is a linkage between drug abuse and violence. These drugs include cocaine, codeine, tramadol, beer, ketanin, rolphnol, diazepham, cannabis, ecstasy.
Drug abuse is anything you take that changed your behaviour and make you bold. Sensitisation on the danger of drug abuse can lead to behavioural change, a better productivity of our youth and women for a better society. This sensitisation will go round the state to prevent new cases.
“Kaduna state government is funding four rehabilitation centers in Kaduna state, two more to be added, to prevent new cases and treat existing cases. This will reduce banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling to enable people live in peace and security,” he said.
The Agwatyap, Mr Dominic Gambo Yahaya, lamented that many youths take to drugs because of lack of jobs, adding that drug abuse contributed to insecurity in the state and country.
He also urged improved presence and enforcement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to proactively tackle drug abuse.
MTO/Vanguard
