Drug abuse: A pandemic we underrate

Early this month, I was disturbed by a frightening report by the Nigerian Drug & Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stating that for every six persons in Kano, one is a drug addict. According to the report, these addicts fall between the ages of 15 and 64 years and represented a 16 per cent prevalence rate. […]

Early this month, I was disturbed by a frightening report by the Nigerian Drug & Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stating that for every six persons in Kano, one is a drug addict. According to the report, these addicts fall between the ages of 15 and 64 years and represented a 16 per cent prevalence rate.

The disturbing disclosure was first made by the Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), when he visited the state.

In Nigeria at large, unemployment has been a nagging issue for far too long and Kano State, being the most populous, has the biggest challenge of providing employment opportunities for its youths.

Many believe that unemployment is one of the major factors that lead to drug abuse because as the adage goes, ‘an idle mind is a devil’s workshop’.

Therefore, we as a people must quickly come to terms that drug abuse and addiction are inimical to a society that seeks to achieve meaningful development and preserve moral standards.

Drug abuse is a social vice that must be shunned in its entirety by all and sundry if we are to attain greater heights and bequeath a better legacy and society for future generations.

In particular,  drug abuse has contributed largely to the spike of insecurity in Kano and the nation at large.

Cases of domestic violence in the city are at an all-time high and increasing at an alarming rate. The rising spate of thuggery, rape, murder, burglaries, daylight armed robberies, car thefts, phone-snatching, hooliganism, etc, are mostly engineered by drug abuse.

In view of the above, the state government  should come up with skills acquisition programmes to empower the youths and create avenues where talents are handsomely rewarded. Empowering the youths will take them off the streets and help minimise, if not eradicate crimes in the state.

Also, the Kano State House of Assembly, should, as a matter of urgency, make legislation that bans any politician from participating in politics, if found guilty of giving out hard drugs to youths during political activities.

The state government should, in addition, make drug test compulsory for all intending couples and those vying for political offices.

Community leaders should set up a strong, well-equipped local anti-drug task force, supported by influential individuals in the state, to patrol inner communities to fish out drug abusers, raid notorious joints where drugs are sold and hand over suspects to appropriate authorities for prosecution.

Civil society groups, NGOs, community groups, vigilantes, all must put their hands on deck to collectively say “No” to drug abuse in our society.

We must realise that drug abuse is a malignant cancer, which, if not removed or at least, contained, is capable of destroying not just the core of our society; the present-youth, but even future generations.

 

Ishaq Habeeb wrote from Kano and can be reached through [email protected]