Business
210 Million People Use Illicit Drugs Yearly –NDLEA
The Rivers State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Jude Ekure has said that about 210 million people use illicit drugs across the world, yearly.
Mr Ekure, who stated this during the 2011 celebration of the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Port Harcourt, said out of the 210 million people, about 200,000 die annually as a result of drug related cases.
According to him, if proactive steps were not taken to check the trend, the number of deaths would be increased.
“Drug use and drug trafficking is not only a health threat but also threatens global stability and socio-economic development across the world, he said.
As part of efforts to check the trend of drug trafficking and abuse in Rivers State, Mr Ekure said that the three commands operating in the state have seized 815,254 kilogrammes of exhibit drugs within one year.
The breakdown of the seized drugs shows that about 814,744 kilogramme were cannabis satire, 266.5 grammes were cocaine, 149.8 gammes were heroin and 63.4 grammes were amphetamines, respectively.
He further stated that the operations were carried out through interdiction at the airport, seaport and raid operations at the various black spots, including premises and hideouts of suspected drug dealers in the state.
Ekure noted that the theme of this year’s event, Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs calls for collective efforts to ensure healthy communities devoid of drugs and its attendant negative effects.
He, however, appealed to the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi to assist the command in logistics and other support to enable it get to all the areas in the state.
An occupational health physician in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Dr Abiye Alamina in his presentation titled “Community Efforts Towards a Drug Free Society’ noted that harmful effect of drugs on an individual leads to death, reduces life expectancy and increased risks of suicides and death from Road Traffic Accident (RTA).
Others are unemployment and loss of employment and productivity, emotional trauma and increases economic and health care burden.
On how to ensure a drug free society, Dr Alamina advocated for increased health literacy and establishment of effective rehabilitation institutions.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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