War Against Drug Abuse The Journey So Far

Drug abuse, drug misuse, substance abuse or any other name for that matter, according to medical experts, involves the repeated and excessive use of chemical substances to achieve effect. They say these substances may be 'street' or illicit drugs, illegal due to their high potential for addiction and abuse. The American Psychiatric Association in 1992 inter-alia, viewed drug abuse to apply to “the illegal, non-medical use of limited number of substances, most of them, drugs which have properties of altering mental state in ways that are considered by social norms and defined by statute to be inappropriate, undesirable, harmful, threatening, or at minimum, culture “alien”.
Drug abuse or misuse has also been defined from several perspectives including public health definition, mass communication and vernacular usage, medical definitions and political and legal definitions. All these definition imply a negative judgment of the drug use in question. These drugs include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methaquakon and opium alkaloids. It has been asserted that the use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to possible physical, social and psychological harm, both strongly depending on local jurisdiction. Rather than accepting the loaded terms on lcohol or drug abuse, many public health professionals have adopted phrases such as substances and alcohol type problems or harmful/problematic use of drugs. They look at drug abuse from a broader perspective than the individual, emphasizing the role of society, culture and availability.
For medical doctors, drug abuse may not be treated totally through medical means. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental Disorders (DSM) and the World Health Orgnisation's International statistical classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), harmful abuse or substances abuse has been used to cover physical or psychological harm to the user from use. Researches reveal that drug misuse has potential harm. It is discovered that depending on the actual compound, drug misuse including alcohol may lead to health problems, social problems, morbidity, injuries, unprotected sex, violence, deaths, motor accidents, homicides, suicides, mortality, physical dependence or psychological addiction. Researches say drug abuse affects the central nervous system, which produces changes in mood, levels of awareness or perceptions and sensations. Most of these effect, they say, also alter systems other than central nervous system. From legal perspective, there has been drug control law, prohibition (drugs) argument for and against prohibition. Most governments have designed legislation to criminalize certain types of drug use. Law vary across countries and even within them, and have fluctuated widely throughout history.
Drug abuse is not a matter of moral weakness or faulty willpower. Experts say it is a vicious cycle that actually causes changes in the brain, leading to stronger and stronger impulses to use. They hold that drug abuse destroys and takes lives. What causes drug abuse and addiction? What makes one person abuse drugs to the point of losing their home, their family and their job, while another does not? Experts say there is one simple reason. According to experts, a powerful force in addiction is the inability to self-soothe or get relief from untreated mental or physical pain.
Some other factors, they say, include family history of addiction while the interplay between genetics and environment is not entirely clear, if you have a family history of addiction, you are at higher risk for abusing drugs; history of mental illness-drug abuse can worsen mental illness or even create new symptoms; untreated physical pain without medical supervision, pain medications or illegal drugs like heroin can rapidly become addictions', peer pressure if people around you are doing drugs, it can be difficult to resist the pressure to try them, especially if you are a teenager.
Drug Control As An Effective Means Of Crime Control
Transnational organized crime is considered as one of the major threats to human security, impeding the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies worldwide. It is multi-faceted phenomenon and has manifested itself in different activities, among others, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, trafficking in firearms; smuggling of migrants; money laundering; etc. In particular drug trafficking is one of the main activities or organized crime, generating enormous profits.
Many small operators are trying their hands at drug trafficking, spreading the drugs and their influence throughout the region. Given the economic desperation and entrepreneurial ingenuity of the populace, many more are likely to become dealers in the near future if noting is done to dissuade them.
No other drug can near the profitability of these illicit drugs so the length to which the traffickers are willing to go to protect their business in higher. More profits mean more corrupting influence, more potential for violence and greater risk that the drug market will crowd out illicit commercial activity.
Drugs Control As An Effective Means of Crime Control
What is drug Control? Drug Control is the mission of the NDLEA, which is to deploy all resources at it disposal to 'eradicate illicit trafficking in narcotic Drugs and psychotropic Substances; reduces Demands for illicit Drugs and other Substances of abuse; Recover ill-gotten wealth, acquired from the proceeds of illicit drug trade; and protect, enhance and maintain the image of Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad'. In essence, make Nigeria drug free.
For effective Drug Control, the NDLEA needs to work with every part of the society to achieve its mandate. So far as the ultimate goal of everyone in Nigeria is to be developed; one of the best 20 economies in the world by the year 2020, we all need to join hands to fight the drug war. The drug crime is closely related with other crimes such as arms trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, kidnapping, armed robbery and financial crimes, and they together are the stumbling blocks to our attaining vision 202020.
When there is effective drug control
* The criminals will lack the funds with which to carry out their criminal activities
*The youth will not be hardened into militancy and other crimes
* The Government will not be subverted by the illegal funds, and
* The young generation will not be corrupted, bastardized, and robbed of their prospective future.
Firstly, all the enforcement agencies need to cooperate and collaborate together According to Sir Carleton Allen, “Crime is crime because “it consists in wrong doing which directly and in serious degree threatens the security or well being of society, and because it is not safe to leave it redressable only by compensation of the party injured.” Crime Control, and invariably Drug Control, is therefore an issue of national security.
This is the reason the NDLEA has been included in the Security Council of several States as we hope that will be the case in Akwa Ibom State soon.
Other stakeholders include the various tiers of governments, educational institutions, non-governmental institutions, community based institutions, business and most importantly, the youth. Drug Control is broadly divided into two- drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction. That is, the drug war is fought from various angles. It is not only through combating criminals. In the area of drug supply reduction, the NDLEA maintains a presence at international airports, seaports and border checkpoints, making regular seizures of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from individual couriers. It also conducts raids on premises and cannabis farms based on intelligence received. To succeed in this area, we depend amongst others, on information relating to the activities of the drug dealers.
As regards drug demand reduction, a large part of the war is fought through what we refer to as drug abuse prevention strategies. Everybody can be involved in this. The strategies are in three categories, namely,. Primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.
Primary Prevention: These are programmes to prevent those who have not experimented with illicit drug from becoming so involved. This is done through various strategies of public enlightenment and education.
Secondary Prevention: These programmes are those designed to treat those already involved with and deponent on drugs it covers counseling, medical treatment and referral for rehabilitation.
Tertiary Prevention: Upon treatment, the tertiary stage provides the necessary support to help the individual recover himself completely and become reunited with his family and the larger society at large, as well as after-care to prevent relapse. This stage is still prevention because we have to take care to prevent those treated from going back into drug abuse.
It is clear that there is a lot of work to be done and it is not practicebale to expect that the NDLEA can do it all alone.
Do Drugs Control Your Life, Your Community?
Let us list the things we desire in our communities. Does the list include people getting mad or useless from drug abuse. Certainly not. Then, why do we give place to drugs in our communities? How do we give place to drugs? We give place to drugs by
* Having a nonchalant attitude to the use of illicit drugs
* No trying to correct those who have gone astray
* Revering those we positively know are involved in drugs for filthy lucre's sake
* Not actively supporting the drug war though we are financially and physically able to do so.
* Ganging up wrong against enforcement agents and specially the NDLEA
* Warning dealers on the approach of officers on raid
* Hiding traffickers when they are running from officers
* Not assisting youths or family members to find self-fulfilment, thereby leaving them vulnerable to go astray
* Allowing bad association to thrive and
* Encouraging the use of Ogogoro and Indian hemp, also known as 'combine', as a traditional drink.
Before we discuss the ways in which you can join in Drug Control, we want to ensure that you are not of the problem. We advise those who may already be abusing any illicit drug to be bold and seek help. Do not die in silence. The NDLEA is here to help you and we can assure you that treatment works. Please contact us and we will help you.
For those who are clean, we want to know that this is the time you need to be strong. There is a global financial crisis. There will be temptations. You must NOT give in. Drug abuse is NOT the answer. Drug trafficking is NOT the answer. Do not use and do not influence others to use illicit drugs or engage in illicit drug trafficking. Stay clean and you will realise your potential.
Having seen the various aspects of the drug Control as discussed beforehand, he areas in which you can ensure that your life and community give no place to drugs is by counting the above-listed negative practices and effective Drug Control through providing relevant information to the agency, public enlightenment, and giving support to the NDLEA in anyway possible Community members should no longer see illicit drug abuse and trafficking as normal. Hey should see it for the evil that it is. The traditional drink is a mixture with a leaf known as isim oyot, not Indian hemp, so the widespread use of Indian should be stopped at once.
Provision of Information: In the area of the provision of information, we guarantee to keep the identity of informants confidential. The drug dealers are not spirits. They live and operate among us. If the NDLEA does not get the right information, there is a limit to what it can do. We therefore encourage you to support our work by giving us relevant information. You can reach us at any of our area commands in Eket, Oron, Ikot Ekpene, or the Headquarters at No. Nwaniba Roads , Uyo. You can also text messages to us on 07089925559, 07063986363 or email us at drugfreeinaks@ yahoo.com.
Public Enlightenment: You can fight the war by joining the NDLEA in aggressive public enlightenment campaigns at your places of work, in your neighbourhood, in schools and public rallies This is not for the NDLEA alone. You can do this in various ways, and especially by forming or joining Drug Free Clubs and actively participating in public enlightenment. You can form or join Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) focused on drug demand reduction. The NGOs, in addition to public enlightenment, can assist in the collection and analysis of data on drug users, provision of public enlightenment materials, visiting and encouraging drug convicts in prison and helping to reintegrate drug convicts and rehabilitated persons into the society.
Apart from that, we can all inculcate the 'stay drug free' message into social activities. This can be done in many innovative ways including printing short messages like, 'Stay of drugs' or invitation cards, greeting cards, souvenirs for birthdays, wedding and other occasions and through phone messages (sms) and e-mails.
Giving Support to the NDLEA: You can give support to the NDLEA by helping to provide logistical and financial needs in the various area commands and headquarters. More importantly, we need your support in not covering up the traffickers or giving them refuge when they are running from the NDLEA. Do not give them advance information when you notice the NDLEA approaching for an operation. DO NOT JOIN THEM TO MOB THE NDLEA. We are fighting the criminals, not the community. The drug dealers are your enemies. We are your friends. So, if you must take sides, take sides with the NDLEA and help us cleanse our communities.
Conclusion
The NDLEA has a great mission to make Nigeria drug free, thereby halting the wastage of precious lives, reducing other related crimes and providing the enabling environment for development. The Agency needs the cooperation of all and sundry if this mission is to be achieved. We seize this opportunity to enlist every one of you in the drug war.
Before you leave here, we want you to align yourself with the mission of the NDLEA and determine within yourself that you will personally contribute to make Nigeria drug-free. We must learn to be our brothers' keepers and Nigeria will be a better place. You may decide to form a Drug Free Club in your school or community, as well as inculcate the drug-free message in your various activities.
Sorting our drug trafficking may not solve all of pour problems, but not sorting it out will definitely compound them. We must all do our best to bring Law and Order to our communities and this will go a long way toward securing them for investment and the development of healthy and drug-free societies.
Thank you for your kind attention. May God bless you all.
This was part of lecture delivered by Obi J. R (CAN) State Commander, national Drug aw Enforcement Agency, Akwa Ibom State Command, a the NDLEA Eket Area Command Special Lecture in Commemoration of the 2009 World Drug Free Day.

Dangers Of Drug Abuse

A drug is a combination of medical chemical or substance formulated and prepared by chemists and pharmacists for the treatment or cure of different illnesses under the recommendation and supervision of medical doctors.
Drugs are many, diverse in their composition and functions. There are drugs that people can acquire in the chemist's shop and buy for use when attacked by minor health problems. The commonest of these drugs are the analgesics Panadol, Asprin, Pengo, Daga, Phensic and others like cough syrup, vitamin C and so on. But antibiotics capsules, poisons, tranquilizers, Indian hemp, Cocaine, heroin and many more are not supposed to be taken without a doctor's prescriptions or without a pharmacists recommendations.
The danger of self-medication are very many, most especially among our students. The evidence of drug abuse cases can be seen in more mental psychiatric cases. Some young and old people simply take some hard drugs just because they want to be high, some students have lost their lives because of self-medication and wrong use of drugs.
Continuous use of hard drugs, leads to the production of maladjusted citizens. If we have to take seriously what our medical experts in various specialized fields are saying daily. Drug abuse is one of the major cases of rampant tragic accidents on our high ways. Some drivers take Chinc capsule, cannabis which derail their senses. Some families and society suffer because of this.The prevalence of the improper consumption of hard drugs is behind the increasing rate of armed banditry. Fragile or frail looking, cowardly youngmen and women become daring and ruthless after taking hard drugs and other strong stimulants, this way, the society suffers a variety of harm and losses.
Medical experts have been saying for sometime, now that drug abuse could induce. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in some people. This means that wrongly used drugs can destroy the natural Immune System that guards one against certain infections.
Drug abuse is a key contribution to the humiliation of Nigeria citizens and our national officials in foreign countries who are subjected to scandal. At times, dogs are used to scrutinize people. This destroys our international image and reputation.
Among adolescents, alcohol is the most frequently abused drug. Report from an interview indicates that colleges and universities officials agree that drinking is a major problem in most of the nation's campuses.
Alcohol consumption has far reaching consequences. For instance, nearly two-third of those who commit campus crimes admit visiting alcohol. Other related offenses like sex offence, violence, vandalism, theft etc. are not unconnected with alcohol consumption.
Another drug frequently used by adolescents is marijuana. Marijuana presents different effects on different users but the most common effect which tends to be generally acknowledged by users is a mild form of inebriation, increase in the intensity of sense impressions for instance colours may appear brighter and music may sound richer and more resonant.
Although the academics find no convulsive evidence that drug has long term or permanent effects, it nonetheless said that marijuana's short-term effects justify serious national concern”. It concluded that marijuana temporally impairs motor co-ordination, hampers short-term memory, oral communication and hearing and may trigger temporary confusion and delirium. The implication therefore is that, daily use of marijuana can affect adolescent users academic performance.
Chronic use of marijuana may lead to impaired lung function, decreased sperm counts, interference with ovulation, diminished immune response and possible lung cancer.
Anti drug abuse campaigns should be set up by the government, schools and private citizens. The youths must be well enlightened on all possible dangers of using drugs wrongly.
Security efforts to detect and apprehend all illegal importers and users of hard drugs must be perfected. Religious organizations must contribute to building of a drug free society.