The Women Friendly Initiative (WFI), a non-governmental organisation, has called for alternative means to prevent drug abuse across the country.
Speaking during a one-day sensitisation workshop on drug prevention, treatment and care for law enforcement officials and media personnel in Kuje, Wednesday, chief executive officer of the organisation, Dr Francis Eremutha, urged government to set up more rehabilitation and training centres for drug victims.
He said cases of drugs should be seen beyond just arresting the suspects, enjoining stakeholders to be the concerned with issues of rehabilitation and after-care for the victims.
The chief executive officer emphasised the need for relevant stakeholders to provide avenues for constant reorientation of people on the dangers and how to address the menace.
Eremutha urged officials of security agencies and the media to assist in sensitising Nigerians, especially the young minds to desist from the act.
He identified security personnel as critical stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of assisting in the fight against drug abuse.
Public relations officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) FCT command, Peter Adegbe, called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to address cases of drug abuse.
Adegbe said drug abuse should not be seen as the concern of the agency alone but a collective effort, assuring that the agency was committed to measures that would help curb abuses across the territory, especially at the outskirts.
One of the resource persons, Nduka Augustine, in his contributions said “drug abuse is a global health problem,” adding that the inappropriate use of drugs has been a source of concern to governments and individuals in the country.
Also speaking, Mary Adejo Rose of WFI, said the sensitisation was targetted at religious leaders, health care practitioners, patent medicine vendors, women and youth leaders, media practitioners and law enforcement agents, adding that the project which is supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with funding from the European Union, was developed specifically to increase knowledge and awareness on various drug use issues, as well as reduce the stigma associated with drug use.
