Korede Abdullah
Some Stakeholders in Lagos State have come together to brainstorm on the urgent necessity to end drug abuse in the state, especially among the youths. They highlited a strategy to achieve this in a dialogue, held at the Youth Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday (Friday). The stakeholders recognized drug as a medical problem requiring a compassionate response rather than a moral or economic issue.
The dialogue which was organized by YOUTHRISE Nigeria, with the theme “Beyond the Surface: Responding to Substance Use among Young People,” brought together experts, which included the Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibironke Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders to address the growing concern of substance abuse among primary and secondary school pupils.
Speaking at the Meeting, the First Lady highlighted the necessity for all relevant stakeholders to collaborate effectively to achieve a comprehensive solution. She underscored the role of her office in focusing on sensitisation and advocacy to tackle the issue, just as she urged other stakeholders to clearly define their areas of focus and consistently work within their capacities to ensure a coordinated effort in the fight against drug abuse.
A Consultant Psychiatrist at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, Dr Banjo Adesoji, likened the situation of substance abuse by youths to a burning building, stating that the focus had been on the wrong aspect.
“We have been focusing on the substance and economic aspects, rather than addressing it as a medical problem. This is why we only see a fraction of the cases, usually when they become severe. Substance abuse is a medical problem, not an economic one,” he noted
On his part, the State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Lagos State Command, Abubakar Liman Wali decried the loopholes in the judicial system in apportioning appropriate sanctions and punishment to
persons arrested for drug trafficking or drug abuse-related offences.
“I can tell you that we are doing our part by arresting individuals involved in drug abuse and handing them over to the judiciary. However, the fines imposed often fail to serve as a severe deterrent. These individuals can easily pay the hefty fines, which undermines the efforts to curb drug-related crimes”, he stated.
