Experts seek synergy to combat drug abuse among youth

Experts have called on agencies responsible for the control and regulation of drug abuse to synergise in fighting the menace among Nigerian youth.

At a workshop organized by the Anchor Psychological Services (APS) in Abuja, one of the experts and Executive Director of APS, Professor Andrew Zamani frowned at the lack of synergy between the law enforcement agencies.

He said rather than identifying the root cause of the menace, attention has shifted to arresting and throwing victims who are mostly youth, into jails which has further exacerbated the problem.

“Criminal justice administrators have been confined to the reactive responses of arrest, prosecution and in some cases conviction of drug abusers, in the same manner as they do drug traffickers and couriers. “The establishment of specialised drug rehabilitation centres outside psychiatric hospital in all the six geo -political zones to which criminals convicted for drug -induced crimes could be referred for redemptive care is important,” Prof. Zamani said.

Professor of Forensic Psychology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Amaechi Nweze said the lack of synergy of the agencies and the criminal justice system is one of the leading reasons why the problem persists.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is charged with the authority, duties and responsibilities of enforcing the national policy on drugs. To assist NDLEA, the powers of other stakeholders in law and order maintenance: the police, NSCDC and FRSC should be reinforced to facilitate enforcement of drug policy in the country,” he said.

The Daily Trust reports that the Sokoto Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) this week seized 68 cartons of tramadol drug and 120 kilogrammes of cannabis worth N21 million in Sokoto state.