World leaders speak on International Day against Drug Abuse, Illicit Trafficking

• UN Secretary-General urges International Community to strengthen efforts to confront illicit drugs

Emeka Ibemere with the Agency Report

Do you know that drug abuse and illicit trafficking have calamitous consequences for the world’s efforts to deliver greater prosperity and equality for all and that there are up to 200,000 preventable deaths each year from overdoses with illicit drugs spawn criminal violence and weaken a state’s essential institutions?

If you don’t know, then know it that countries emerging from conflict or escaping economic decline can be overwhelmed when illicit drugs pour across their borders.

The United Nations, working across peacekeeping, law enforcement, health, human rights and other related areas, is strongly committed to helping them repel illicit drugs and prevent spill-over from becoming takeover.

“On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I urge the international community to strengthen its efforts to confront illicit drugs as an integral element in building a safe and sustainable future”, Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary-General stated on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, speaking on balanced, cooperative, integrated approach, said it’s a guarantee for sustained success against illicit drugs. According to him, illicit drugs threaten people’s health and welfare. He said up to 200,000 people die every year due to illicit drugs; but drugs do not just affect the user, they cause tremendous hardship and misery to families and loved ones.

“Drug use disorders undermine close relationships, damage home lives, including those of children, and can ruin education and employment opportunities. Their impact is felt in communities, criminal justice systems and across society”, he stated, Yury Fedotov said

UNODC’s theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking offers a message of hope: Drug use disorders are preventable and treatable. Those who suffer from drug use disorders can be supported through evidence-based treatment, and many of those who die, do so from overdoses that are preventable. Children and young people must also be educated on the dangers of illicit drugs.

“My message today has three components. First, sustained success against illicit drugs requires a balanced, cooperative, and integrated approach founded on the conventions that address both supply and demand reduction. Second, a balanced approach includes comprehensive measures focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social protection and cohesion. Third, science holds the key. UNODC is bridging the gap between science and practice by fostering a dialogue between policy makers and the scientific community”.

He disclosed that together these elements form part of UNODC’s global mission to promote and support access to drug dependence treatment and care services and HIV prevention, for people who use drugs, in line with human rights standards. On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, it is important to remember that drug use disorders are preventable and treatable and that where there is help, there is also hope.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade assured persons struggling with substance abuse that there is hope of breaking free from drug addiction. This was his position at the commemoration of the 2014, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for the celebration is A Message of Hope: Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable. The origin of this event is traceable to December 7, 1987 when the United Nations through resolution 42/112 dedicated every June 26 as World Drug Day.

According to Giade “I present to you today A Message of Hope that Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable.  NDLEA has drug abuse prevention experts who carry out enlightenment programmes in schools, markets and work places. There are also counsellors who assist drug dependent persons to overcome drug use and addiction. Counselling services are available in all NDLEA 36 State offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. We also received report of 802 treated cases from hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria”.

Director General of the NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George said that she is prepared to vigorously pursue the vision of the Agency. “My mission is to contribute my quota towards NDLEA’s efforts towards a drug-free society. Efforts must be geared towards cutting off drug supply to drug addicts and reducing demand for drugs through effective enlightenment programmes. Drug prevention programs must be elaborate involving families, schools, communities and the media” she stated.

Roli appealed to mothers to monitor their children to know their friends and prevent deviant behaviour. “Peer influence is one of the predisposing risk factors to drug abuse. Mothers must take time off their busy schedule to monitor their children and guide them on the right path in life. This is a problem that does not discriminate so we must take responsibility” the DG added.

The theme according to the NDLEA boss could not have come at a much better time considering the colossal damage caused by drug abuse. Substance abuse alters the way people think, feel and behave. Drugs affect cellular structure and function leading to protracted or permanent neurotransmission abnormalities.

The UNODC Project Officer, Mr. William Wu also added his voice to the message of hope noting that the UNODC is working with the NDLEA to eradicate the problem of drug production, trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.

Giade urged parents whose wards are drug dependent not to die in silence but seek assistance. “Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use regardless of the harmful consequences. This clearly shows that drug dependent persons surely need help and love just like any other sick patient. People should seek help and in good time” Giade stated.

UNODC estimates that about 230 million people or 5 percent of the world population used illegal drugs at least once in 2010. Global treatment for drug abuse is believed to cost $250 billion dollars per year if everyone that needed help received proper care. Apart from death, crimes committed by people who need money to finance drug abuse habits pose a serious threat to peace and security. There is also the attendant problem of low productivity resulting from drug abuse by workers.

Nigeria has made remarkable effort in drug supply control such as high profile arrest of drug traffickers and drug seizures. Others include destruction of cannabis farms and dismantling of clandestine drug laboratories.  In 2013, a total of 8,843 persons were investigated in connection with drug trafficking. They include 8,324 males and 519 females. Illicit drugs seized weighed 339,968kg. The breakdown is as follows; cannabis 205,373kg, psychotropic substances 133,920kg, methamphetamine 340.8kg and cocaine 290.2kg. Others are heroin 24.53kg, amphetamine 19.297 and ephedrine 0.28 grammes.

In addition, a total of 847.46 hectares of cannabis plantations were traced and destroyed. Ekiti State had the largest cannabis plantation with 324 hectares. Cannabis farms detected in other States are as follows; Osun 197.05 hectares, Edo 126.41 hectares, Oyo 93 hectares, Ogun 53 hectares and Ondo 51 hectares. Devoting 847.46 hectares of land to rice production instead of cannabis will drastically reduce the level of rice importation.

The Agency also conducted public destruction of forfeited drug exhibits weighing 145,869.525kg in four States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in 2013. The States are Edo, Oyo, Kano and Ekiti. A total of 1,864 offenders were convicted by the courts.