In an effort to address the menace of Drug abuse, such as gross abuse of codeine and other substance of abuse among the Youth in the North West and North East zones, the National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control {NAFDAC} has enlisted the support of Religious Leaders and Clerics to convey messages to their congregation on drug abuse during the Ramadan Sermons {Tafsirs} in the various mosques across the zones.
The Ramadan is a period where the rites that reflect obedience to Allah, reading the Holy Qu’ran and listening to sermons are observed, hence people assemble in various mosques to listen to the Tafsir.
This period affords the clerics the opportunity to educate the Youth by disseminating information on the effects of codeine, tramadol and other substance of abuse on the Youth, the community and economy of the nation, so as to discourage the Youth to shun drugs.
The Ramadan drug abuse enlightenment campaign in mosques has since commenced in all the thirteen {13} states in the two zones.
You may wish recall that recently, the Federal Government through the Honourable Minister of Health announced the ban on codeine production and NAFDAC has also placed an embargo on the issuance and renewal of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup preparation. These actions became necessary due to the gross abuse and widespread addiction.
In addition to the above, NAFDAC has also deployed strategies like intensive public awareness and sensitization campaign, drug demand reduction campaign, increased enforcement and improved collaboration with sister agencies to address this menace.
The agency urges State Governments in the zones to establish drug abuse control committees in view of the high and growing rate of drug abuse among the Youth in both the rural and urban areas in the zones and considering the Youth as the best resource of the zones {though it seems as if the hope of many of the Youth has been dashed by the menace of drug abuse}.
The committees are to prevent the proliferation of drug abuse and psychotropic substances among the Youth in addition to other activities that will reduce and eliminate drug abuse in the zones.
DG NAFDAC
