The Director-General, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry, Dr Dokun Adedeji, has lamented the impact of COVID-19 on the fight against drug abuse in the country.
Speaking ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, scheduled for June 26, Adedeji, at a briefing said the COVID-19 pandemic had ravaged the economies of many developing nations including Nigeria and had also heightened the rate of drug abuse in society.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing high fatalities which crippled the economies of many developing nations including Nigeria have taken our minds off the cry for help of people under the bondage of drug abuse and addiction. More than ever before, they are at greater health risk because most do not have adequate shelter and are unable to adhere to prescribed preventive measures due to their poor living conditions.
“If care is not taken, the economic downturn resulting from COVID-19 pandemic may potentially disrupt drug markets. The resultant rising unemployment and lack of opportunities will make poor and disadvantaged people engage in harmful patterns of drug use, suffer drug use disorders and turn to illicit activities linked to drugs,” Adedeji said.
He also called on governments to intensify awareness and the dangers of drug abuse and addiction, adding that the NGO had in the last 30 years rehabilitated drug addicts without bias for gender, nationality, ethnicity and religion.
The theme for 2021 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is, ‘Share Facts on Drugs, Save lives.’
Copyright PUNCH.
