Takeaways from the Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018

The Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018, which was organised by the West Africa Drug Policy Network in Nigeria in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), recently held in Abuja.

It was Kofi Annan, at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2013, who said: “I believe that drugs have destroyed many people, but wrong government policies have destroyed many more.”

Thus, at the policy summit, the thrust was on how Nigeria an effectively control drugs, push for law reforms, as well as support and not punish drug users.

Here are some of the takeaways from the summit:

Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018: Making Nigeria Drug Control Responses sustainable and effective.

Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018: Advocating for drug law reform for sustainable and effective drug control system in Nigeria. Ighodalo

Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018: Making public health, human rights and rule of law the center point of Nigeria Drug Control Responses.

Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018: People with who use drugs need help not punishment in Nigeria.

Nigeria Drug Policy Summit 2018: Advocating end to Illicit drug trafficking and organised crimes in Nigeria through effective and improved drug law enforcement and criminal justice system.

Our stand therefore at the Drug Salvation Foundation is that we support the implementation of policies based on public health, human rights and rules. We call for an end to these repressive policies that only serve to marginalise and stigmatise drug users and reduce their access to the services they need.

Note that drug abuse addiction stigma can affect people in the workplace, it can affect their social relations and mental and physical health. Stigma can result in people delaying their decision to enter treatment, and can hinder access to regular or specific healthcare.

Stigma can trigger dangerous behaviours and it can further compound social disadvantages associated with substance abuse and it can trigger further use of drugs and other dangerous substance.

.... Ighodalo is the president, The Drug Salvation Foundation and Focal Person, South West Zone, Community Intervention Network on Drugs (CIND) Nigeria, a network of CSOs working on drugs in Nigeria.