Today, June 26, the global community
commemorates the 2018 International Day
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The day was established by law in
the year 1987 by the United Nations
(UN) to create awareness on the inherent dangers in all kinds of drug abuse.
Drug abuse is a social ill that
involves two distinct dimensions. It could be the misuse of a substance used as
a medicine or the improper intake of medicine. On the other hand, it could be
the intake or misuse of a stimulant that’s not supported by law such as
cocaine, cannabis, marijuana, and Indian helm.
The former is often as a result of ignorance or negligence, while the
latter is wholly a criminal and illegal act and appears to be more dangerous to
both human and animal health compare to the former.
Prior to the resolution for the day, the UN
General Assembly understood that in spite of the continual and increasing
efforts by the international community, the global drug predicament continued
to constitute a severe threat to public health, the safety and well-being of
humanity especially the young people, and the national security and sovereignty
of States thereby undermining the socio-economic and political stability of the
affected nations.
As the world celebrates this remarkable day,
I call on governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), religious bodies,
civil societies, medical experts, every concerned law enforcement agency, the
media, and all well-meaning individuals across the globe, particularly Nigeria,
to do everything humanly possible to raise awareness of the unquantifiable harm
caused by drug abuse and its illicit trafficking.
We can contribute our
respective quotas by ensuring that anyone caught in the act is reported to the
apt quarter as soon as possible to enable the law act aptly as requested.
Similarly, the traditional rulers can be of vital help by fishing out the bad
eggs in their midst regarding drug abuse and thereafter drag them to the nearby
concerned authority for onward prosecution.
In regard to self-medication
and other forms of drug abuse attributed to ignorance or lack of orientation, a
thorough awareness campaign on the dangers inherent in intake of drugs without
the consent of a qualified physician ought to be embarked on by every relevant
body, and every avenue including the mass media should be used to reach out to
the general public.
The plight occasioned by
illicit trafficking cannot be adequately addressed without the candid and
holistic involvement of such concerned authorities as the Nigerian Drug Law and
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The former must ensure that their personnel are equally mounted on our
various major roads toward ensuring that various vehicles as well as travellers
are duly checked if necessary. The latter, on their part, ought to endeavour to
work hand-in-hand with the former at the various borders toward attaining
accuracy and efficiency at all times.
Both agencies shouldn’t
hesitate, either individually or collectively, to prosecute any suspect no
matter whose ox is gored to serve as a deterrent to other intending
traffickers. Above all, the Ministry of Interior must ensure that all the
relevant agencies or commissions are living up to the expectations, come rain
come shine.
The individuals or group of persons abusing
the drugs are also expected to help themselves. They must take into cognizance of
the fact that misuse of medicine such as self-medication, consumption of
medicine without consulting an apt medical expert, and intake of over/under
dose contrary to the doctor’s prescription, are all a death-trap that can take one’s
life unannounced.
Those who take hard drugs or the
ones forbidden by the extant laws, which invariably lead to anxiety, panic,
depression, brain fag or damage of brain cells, mental imbalance, protracted
illnesses, death, or what have you, should note that the ongoing restrictions
as stipulated by law are solely for the sake of their well-being.
Those involved in the illegal cultivation, production, or peddling of
the hard drugs ought to also be fully aware that many have lost their precious
lives in the process while many are presently rotting in jail. Hence, the
compelling need to comprehend that the law is no respecter of any person or
authority.
Though most of these hard drugs
are very useful raw-materials often used in several firms to manufacture a
quite number of useful products or finished goods, the obvious fact remains
that we aren’t meant to consume them when they are still in their raw states.
Thus, we must be very conscious of this assertion irrespective of the
circumstance we find ourselves.
There is also need for us to
acknowledge that absolute decency is required while consuming those stimulants
that are not forbidden by law such as snuff popularly known as ‘Utaba’,
cigarette, cigar, whisky, dry gin otherwise referred to as ‘Kai-Kai’, or even
beers, et cetera.
We are required to comport ourselves in whatever action we take or while
exercising any lifestyle, so that, our paramount desire of embracing an ill-free
and tranquil society would be duly actualized. A word, they say, is enough for
the wise. Think about it!
FDN Nwaozor
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers
Movement
__________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador
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