The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have reaffirmed commitment to strengthening collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
They made the commitment on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the PSN, Edo Chapter, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to the NDLEA command.
Receiving the delegation, the state Commander of the agency, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said tackling drug abuse required sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
He described the partnership with pharmacists as critical to advancing the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
“The fight against drug abuse is a collective responsibility that no single agency can win alone.
“The challenges are multifaceted, ranging from increasing cannabis cultivation in forest areas, which contributes to environmental degradation.
“There is the exploitation of farmers by criminal networks and the alarming trend of schoolchildren being drawn into such activities,” he said.
Ofoyeju described substance abuse as a chronic relapsing brain disorder, stressing the need for sustained prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and public enlightenment.
In his remarks, the Chairman of PSN, Edo Chapter, Dr Chris Oisakede, commended the command for its achievements in drug control and public sensitisation.
He said community pharmacists remained strategic partners because of their direct interaction with members of the public.
Oisakede also praised the agency’s alternative livelihood initiative for cannabis farmers, describing it as a progressive approach to addressing the root causes of illicit cultivation.
Similarly, the Chairman of ACPN, Dr Nwachukwu Memili, pledged the association’s continued support for the agency’s operations.
Memili said community pharmacists would continue to promote ethical drug distribution and announced plans to organise a free medical outreach for officers and men of the command.
In the same vein, a former Chairman of the PSN in Edo, Dr Grace Ogieva, commended the progress made in curbing the circulation of illicit substances through licenced pharmacies.
She however, called for broader collaboration involving pharmaceutical companies, transport unions, religious organisations and community groups to strengthen public awareness against drug abuse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit ended with Ofoyeju decorating Oisakede as a WADA partner in recognition of the society’s commitment to supporting the agency’s campaign against substance abuse.(NAN)
========
