Drug Problems: UN Proffers Evidence-Based Solution
By: Darlington Omotoso
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, has said evidence-based measures that prioritises prevention and treatment will solve the escalating drug and substance abuse problem in the country.
Deputy Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC), in Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, revealed this during a Press Conference as part of activities to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Abuja, Wednesday.
Campisi explained that the 2024 World Drug Day Campaign recognizes that effective drug policies must be rooted in science, research, full respect for human rights, compassion, and a deep understanding of the social, economic, and health implications of drug use.
He added that the global drug problem presents a multifaceted challenges that touch the lives of millions Worldwide; from individuals struggling with substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organized crime, which impact is far-reaching and complex.
His words: “The theme of this year’s World Drug Day commemoration; ‘the evidence is clear, let us invest in prevention’, is particularly insightful for Nigeria as it highlights the importance of adopting evidence-based, preventive measures to counter drug and substance use.”
According to the Deputy Country Representative, “We know from the 2019 National Drug Use Survey for Nigeria, that the youth prevalence of drug use in Nigeria is considerably high. The survey estimated drug use prevalence in Nigeria at 14.4 percent, which was at the time, thrice above the global prevalence of drug use and indicated that drug use was most prevalent among young people between the ages of 25 and 39 years”.
Campisi further revealed that projections show that by 2030, there will be a 40% increase in the use of drugs in Africa, based on the population of young people; adding that it is extremely concerning, “if we consider that 2030 is only 6 years away”.
The Deputy Country Representative disclosed that UNODC’s partnership with Federal Government of Nigeria to develop and implement evidence –based prevention measures, particularly, “UNPLUGGED”, a school-based Drug Prevention Programme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education, in 110 Unity Schools and a few states in the country, notably Kebbi, Bayelsa, and recently, Kaduna has been highly successful.
He said that with support from the MTN Foundation, the UNPLUGGED programme has been extended to more public schools across the country.
Campisi reiterated, “The programme has been proven to be effective in curbing drug and substance use among participating students with results indicating that students, who went through at least 9 sessions of the UNPLUGGED, prevention programme showed a reduction in alcohol use by 48%”.
Abuja Digest reports that a key highlight of the annual commemoration of World Drug Day is the publication of the World Drug Report, which provides important data and information on the World Drug Problem.
Abuja Digest further reports that the document highlights the trends of drug use and trafficking so that policymakers and implementers can be properly informed in developing targeted interventions and strategies to counter drug problems in their respective countries.
