WHEN HOPE RISES AMID DESPAIR

Lagos

A drug dependent person can be treated, rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society to be useful once again, speakers at the recently celebrated United Nations Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Abuse said.  Jonah Achema who was there writes

The mammoth crowd spoke volumes.  People from all walks of life, top government functionaries, members of the diplomatic corps, security chiefs, youths, transport and tourism workers, religious and Traditional leaders, counsellors, social workers and experts all converged at the Women Development Centre in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on June 25, 2004 for formal presentations on the double barrelled scourges of drug trafficking and abuse.

The event itself was the grand finale of a week long series of activities put together by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and relevant stake holders to mark the 2004 United Nations Day Against illict Drug traffficking and abuse.

As the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Alhaji Bello Lafiaji noted in his presentation at the event, Nigeria had always joined all other nations of the world in commemorating the United Nations Anti-drug Day.  But 2004 was marked with a difference because of the enthusiastic turn out of the populace.  And this was understandable.  In previous years, emphasis of the celebration had been on preventive measures.  But for the first time, this year was a departure.  The theme of the year's celebration " Drugs: Treatment Works" was as unique as it was one big statement of faith, courage and hope for the hopeless.

The highlights of this year's occasion were drama presentations by the Abuja Cultural Troupe, secondary schools within the Federal Capital Territory; anti-drug songs by school children, and testimonies by rehabilitated youths who had suffered injuries by the deadly narcotics: cocaine, heroine, marijuana, amongst others.

Lafiaji, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, in a keynote address, demonstrated his deep interest to save the youth of Nigeria, whom according to him are at risk in drug abuse and trafficking.

According to him, the event was a unique one because it focused on drug dependent persons in Nigeria.  Lafiaji believe that Drug dependence is a health problem that requires treatment.  "The treatment of drug dependent persons can be effective and possible just like every other ailment," the drug ( NDLEA boss stated.

He explained that in Nigeria, treatment of drug dependent persons is always cumbersome due to factors of non-availability of appropriate treatment centres, the lukewarm attitude of the drug addicts to go for treatment and lack of belief in the efficacy of such treatment.

He is, however, worried by the high rate of patients admitted into the mental health institutions for drug related cases.  This group, he said are the youth.  "It is worthy of note here that majority of the patients admitted into mental institutions for drug related problems are youths in their productive years", he regretted.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney- General Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi was not less concerned about the drug menace.  He revealed the dangerous signals waiting for any nation that fails to fight drug abuse and trafficking.

" Any nation that fails to fight the drug menace is at risk of destroying itself." "Drugs destroy the nation by stopping optimal productivity, drugs give the nation a negative image and drugs discourage foreign investment", he said.

The justice minister suggested how to control the supply and demand for drugs.  According to him, aggressive campaigns, seminars, workshops that educate the public on the dangers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances should be pursued with all the vigour.

He called for care, rehabilitation, social reintegration and education of addicts, promotion of the welfare of convicts and designing of cultural relevant drug demand and reduction policies.

But the most difficult question on the lips of the crowd at the event was.  "Does treatment work?".  Hope Obianwu, Professor of Pharrnacology and Director, Nigerian Training Course on Drug Abuse, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Benin said there are evidences that treatment have worked, effectively.

He explained that most of the treatment centres are establishing ways that would assist them evaluate the result of their treatment.  Obianwu backed up his argurnent with the recent survey conducted by the UNODC at the various rehabilitation centres.

"The effectiveness of treatment of drug abuse associated problems cannot be adequately evaluated in Nigeria today because of inadequate facilities", the professor noted while calling for improvement in the facilities for effective demand reduction activities, research programmes in epidemiological rehabilitation, prevention and treatment, adequate data for planning and implementation for effective demand reduction programmes.

On the part of the agency, there are facts and figures to show that treatment, works.  In the past three years for instance, the agency has recorded not fewer than two thousand cases of drug dependent persons been successfully counselled, treated, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society, while many more are still undergoing similar treatment.

In 2000 for instance, 321 cases of drug abuse was reported and handled, but this climbed to 499 cases in 2001 and 1133 cases in 2002, while 2003 stood at 943 cases.

One fact that was, however, not lost on the audience was the fact that prevention is, no doubt, better than treatment or even cure.  This is principally because the chances of recovery are not 100 per cent, medically.

Besides, while the drug dependent person could be cured of the immediate mental imbalance, there are some other associated illnesses arising from drug abuse, such as HIV/AIDS, that have far reaching effects because of their incurability.

This is aside from the high costs of treatment of drug dependent persons.  These are avoidable costs, which are not only unaffordable to most people, but if saved, could as well be used for development and sustainable living.  Unfortunately, the cost of drug abuse extends beyond the individual as it translates to social costs, such as productivity losses and the costs of all component parts of the criminal justice system designed to protect the public.  It is against this background that the Agency is working tirelessly to sustain its preventive measures anchored on Drug Demand Reduction, on the one hand, and Drug Supply measures, on the other.