Stakeholders, professionals are collaborating to curtail drug abuse in order to ensure drug and substance reduction in Nigeria.
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The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa RTD, who made the statement at the Nigerian Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professional in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
He said, “About 14.3 Million Nigerians between the ages of fifteen and sixty-four who have used drugs have psycho or mental disorder.”
The President of the Nigerian Society Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals Dr. Martin Agwogie said collaborating with policy makers as well as professionals there would bring a drastic reduction of drug abuse in the country.
He noted that there was the need to introduce addiction programmes in higher institutions of learning aiming at curtailing drug abuse.
The keynote speaker, Professor Mosses Audu who called for more engagement through collaboration noted that Addiction is a behavioural action that can be treated.
Other stakeholders in the drug demand reduction also commend the need to ensure drug and substance reduction in the society due to the high demand and intake globally.
One of the experts Mrs Lydiya Ajayi said, “Africa as a continent must provide a continental plan and collaboration among countries.”
She described Nigeria as the trailblazer that has significant milestones in achieving drug and substance use on the continent.
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