The Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Rivers State Branch, Mr Anele Enyi, has called on heads of tertiary institutions and others to consider screening fresh students for drugs or substance abuse as part of the medical examination for admission process.
Enyi made the call when the body paid a courtesy visit to the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, to commemorate the United Nations Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the school premises, recently.
According to him, it will enable the system to check the high rising level of drug abuse by students in higher institutions across the country.
The Pharmacist, also advocated for the establishment of a functional substance disorder unit in the university to care for those with drug use problems.
He further noted that the body was at the university to create a working partnership between the institution and the state branch of the organisation in order to identify, explore and develop ways of preventing and reducing drug abuse in universities and the society at large.
The PSN boss hinted that as key members of the Global Health Care Team, that Nigerian pharmacists are front line players in the nation and state health care delivery systems.
He also pointed out that the body provides pharmaceutical care, manufactures and distributes essential medicines for desired access to quality, effective and affordable medicines in the communities, hospitals, as well as other care facilities.
“The consequences of drugs and other substance abuse in the world today, are far-reaching, linking it to security challenges like cultism, kidnapping, banditry, as well as students’ poor academic performance, lack of productivity, and other social vices”, he said.
In his reaction, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Onuchuku, acknowledged that the high rate of crime in the society was related to drug abuse.
He added that promoting this kind of advocacy would properly guide the students and take them away from the ugly practice of drug abuse.
The Vice Chancellor who went down memory lane, further urged the body to go beyond the universities and reach out to the rural communities where many are believed to still patronise patent medicine sellers.
He stressed the need to sensitise manufacturers on the dangers of fake and substandard drugs because of the danger they pose to the public.
“The university management frowns seriously at the abuse of drugs and other harmful substances. The institution would create room for regular interactions with the PSN in order to achieve a drug-free society”, he said.
To the students, he advised them to avoid the intake of substances that would alter their lives and becloud their primary reason for going to school and added that drug abuse has damaged many souls.
The menace, he pointed out, should be blamed on lack of proper education, as he commended the PSN and the Rivers State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for the programme.
On his part, the Director of Training and Capacity Building, Ikem Adiele, highlighted the dangers of the menace in the society and charged the public on the need to join hands in the crusade against drug misuse in order to make the society a better place.

By: King Onunwor