As the world marks the International Day against Abuse of Drugs and Illicit Traffic, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has made an urgent call to end drug abuse in Nigeria.
In a statement signed and made available to journalists in commemoration of the time, the national president of the ACPN, Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, described drug abuse as a “silent crisis” that threatened youth, public health and the development of the nation.
He added that drug abuse is a promoter of mental illness, school dropout, domestic collapse, crime and premature death, thus undermining Nigeria's development aspirations.
Igwekamma condemned the unbridled illegal distribution of drugs, stating: “Each tablet sold without a recipe, each bottle of syrup for deviant codeine cough, and every hard drugs negotiated in the streets is not just a crime, it is a threat to our collective future.
“The global community meets once again to observe this important day reserved by the United Nations to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of drug abuse and illicit traffic.
“As community pharmacists, medical care providers hired and accessible on the front line, we are witnesses first hand of the impact of this threat on our communities.
“This year's theme, 'The evidence is clear: investing in prevention', is strongly aligned with the continuous efforts of the ACPN to combat substance abuse, particularly through initiatives focused on prevention.
“For more than a decade, ACPN has demonstrated a commitment to the creation of consciousness through this annual competence. The objective is to get rid of young minds and align with the United Nations Office on drugs and crime (UNODC) Strategic plan on substance abuse.”
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