- New survey on drug use has revealed that 14.3 million people aged between 15 and 64 use drugs in the country
- The reports of the survey also showed that Nigeria is among the countries who abuse opioids like tramadol and cough syrups
- The minister of state for health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, believed the results of the survey will help to prevent drug abuse
The first ever survey on drug use in the country has shown that 14.3 million people who are between the ages of 15 and 64 use drugs.
The survey also revealed that Nigeria is among some of the countries with the highest use of non-medical opioids in the world, Daily Trust reports.
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The outcomes of the survey was released on Tuesday, January 29, and was carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Centre of Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) in collaboration with Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU).
The report of the survey also showed how there is a wide gap in catering for people who needs treatment and care for those with drug abuse.
The report reads: “With close to three million Nigerians living with some level of drug dependence, the extremely limited availability of drug counselling and treatment services exacerbates this health crisis.”
The survey was conducted based on data gathered from 38,850 respondents in households and 9,344 people with addiction to high risk drug use across the country.
The result of the survey also revealed the extreme use of opioids like tramadol and cough syrups especially for non-medical reasons as 4.6 million people had done.
Results from the survey were not only startling but also saddening as the minister of state for health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed, saying the situation needs to be stopped with committed efforts.
He said: “The need for us to have statistically-sound and relevant data on the extent and pattern of drug use, including high risk drug use, to inform policy formulation and implementation cannot be over emphasized.”
Ehanire, however, was grateful for the survey, believing that it has given the sort of information the country needs to put in place timely prevention of drug abuse and provide good health care serevice.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the presidential committee on elimination of Drug Abuse pledged unwavering support to the National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on stopping drug abuse in the country.
Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), chairman of the committee, made this promise on Wednesday, January 23, in Abuja during a visit to NAFDAC.
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Source: Legit.ng
