Pharmacists Council Of Nigeria Holds A-Day-Advocacy Workshop On Drug, Substance Abuse In Nigeria In Imo
Dan Opara
As part of providing q culture of care for the teeming citizens of Nigeria, the leadership,management and authority of “Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN,which was officially established in Nigeria by Act 91 of 1992,was on Thursday, July 18th 2019,at the Rock view Hotels Owerri,Imo State,held a-day-advocacy workshop on ” Drug and Substance Abuse in Nigeria”.
In an address presented by the PCN Registra,Pharm.Elijah Mohammed,expressed delight and satisfaction for the successes so far recorded in Nigeria by the leadership of PCN.
Pharm.Mohammed, while in speech, thanked the Imo State Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha,who was ably represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media,Mr.Steve Osuju,and all the respected dignitaries who were ably present at the workshop.
He more so said “controlled medicines such as narcotic drugs have two different potentials:the potential to be used for medical and scientific purposes and also to be diverted to illicit channels for trafficking and abuse,which could jeopardize the well-being of the populace”.
The PCN Registra,Mohammed, said medicines of drug abuse are usually used by people for various reasons which may include:curiosity and peer pressure, mostly especially amongst school children and young adults,which according to the 2019 World Drug Report,WDR,in 2017,an estimated 271 million people, or 5.5 percent of the global population aged 15-64,had used drugs in the previous year.
Mohammed however disclosed according to reports in Jan.2019 that drug used by Nigerians is 14.4% or 14.3% million people of the age of 15-64 years ,as prevalence rate of 5.5%.
Mohammed in his address furthermore
accused some Nigerians of been involved into usage of Cannabis (10.6 million),followed by Opioids (4.6 million), mainly non-medical use of prescription opioids and cough syrups (2.4 million),even as he revealed that PCN is concerned with the use,misuse and abuse of narcotics, psychotropics and other substances of abuse because these have assumed frightening dimension in Nigeria.
Also in their remarks by the Seminar Ambassador, ACP Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, the Imo State NDLEA Commandant,Mr. Kayode Raji,and that of the NAFDAC State Officer.
A keynote address by the Seminar Speaker,who is also the Dean,Faculty of Pharmacy,University of Ibadan,Prof.Mrs.Oluwatoyin Odeku,”we are calling on the youths and the adults to always say no to drugs abuse”,even as she shared her deep knowledge on the important subject-matter with practical ideas on how to get out of the menace called drug abuse and avoid being a victim and equipping in the fight against drugs abuse.
In attendance includes various stakeholders from PSN,ACPN,Students from Higher Institutions, Secondary Schools, Youths from across the 27 LGA’s of Imo State, alongside the leadership of the Imo State NURTW led by the Union Chairman, Hon.Comr. Izuchukwu Okebaram,aka Bora,who was ably represented by Comr.Alvan Ahaotu,amongst other members of various organizations.
