FCTA Health Secretariat Advocates Dangers Of Drug Abuse

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Secretariat, on Thursday, carried out its campaign on dangers of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking to schools in the territory.

Dr Abubakar Tafida, the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA, represented by Boniface Ikwu, the FCTA Chairman, Drug Abuse Control Committee (DACC), said drug abuse could be prevented and controlled through shared information, adding that the students should desist from drug intake at the College of Education, Zuba

He said that the campaign was to enlighten students about the ills of the menace, ahead of the 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, annually marked on June 26.

The campaign has “Share Facts on Drugs, Save Lives” as its theme.

The FCTA scribe added that the motive of the campaign was to combat misinformation by sharing real facts on drugs from health risks and solutions for the world drug problem to evidence-based prevention, treatment and care.

"Drug abuse control is the responsibility of government and communities, families, schools, civil society organisations and religious organisations.

“Through sharing of information by parents, guardians, teachers, policy makers and youths, drug abuse/misuse and risky behaviours could be controlled and prevented.

“To our dear students, let me seize this opportunity to advise you on the menace of drug abuse as it destroys the future of otherwise very important personalities of tomorrow.

“Focus on your studies so that you can be useful members of your families and the society,” he said.

The students were also advised to avoid anything that would stop them from realising their dreams and aspirations.

He said the secretariat had put adequate measures in place to streamline how drugs got to the territory, thereby restricting people from getting access to illicit drugs.

He also said that the secretariat was working toward getting ambassadors in the music industry, who would channel the orientation of morals on youths.

Fatimah Popoola, the Deputy Commander, Drug Demand Reduction, National Drug Law Enforcement

Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, urged women to join in the campaign of helping to reduce drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the country.

Popoola said that women should be at the forefront in taking care of their children and husbands so that they would be free from illicit drugs.

She added that “research has shown that a lot of girls and women are involved in drug use in the country, especially cough syrup with Codeine.

“There is stigma attached to women who use drugs and as such, they find it difficult to access treatment.

Many parents are also afraid of bringing their girls using drugs for treatment because of shame.

“This is because if people know such a girl as a drug addict, it will be difficult for her to get married.

"So, there are problems associated with women using drugs.”

Some of the students who spoke to NAN said that the campaign would help them in providing advice for friends and colleagues in the act.

An NCE 1 student in the Islamic/Social Studies Department, Suleimon Mujaheed, said, students were being sensitised to do away with bad friends that would lure them into drug abuse.

Mujaheed, while pledging to be a role model in reducing the menace, urged the Federal Government to evolve a monitoring mechanism that would expose drug barons and their collaborators.

Another student, Fatimah Bala, pledged to take the campaign to her community by sensitising people on the ills of drug abuse and addiction.