About three million Nigerians are said to be suffering from Drug Use Disorder as a result of Cannabis, Meth and other dangerous drugs consumption, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said on Tuesday, June 28.
The agency said it has recorded instances of addicted children killing their parents over refusal to give them funds to buy drugs and couples chasing each other with knives for the kill after getting high on drugs.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NADLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, who decried the development at the opening of a workshop on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) for Governor’s Wives in Abuja said, “This is the findings of a recent drugs survey which suggests that 1 in 5 persons (of approximately 3 million Nigerians) who had used drugs was suffering from Drug Use Disorder, with no less than 155, 000 among them in dire need of medical treatment, at this time”.
Marwa, however, said that the situation is not altogether irredeemable.
“Indeed, the situation can be salvaged, reversed and controlled―only if we move quickly, and adopt strong, well-conceived, coordinated and holistic measures, of which this workshop is a part of the process,” he added.