Why NDLEA seeks drug test for corps members, others – Marwa
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) says his push for drug integrity test for youth corps members, prospective couples and other Nigerians is not to punish anyone but to discourage drug abuse.
He said that the test would also be an opportunity to provide early treatment for those who test positive before their condition degenerate to drug dependency level.
Marwa explained this during a meeting with the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSCA), Brig Gen Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
“The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, communities, everywhere. There’s nowhere you go in the country that you don’t have a drug abuse problem. One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64, use drugs.
“You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs but beyond that we have to work with all stakeholders including NYSC to ensure drastic reduction in the demand for drugs by our youths, and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity test, which we’re advocating that NYSC should embrace for corps members.
“As I said, while we do the drug supply reduction, we also do drug demand reduction through preventive measures, as well as counseling and rehabilitation. Now, these are important areas for further collaboration.
“You have introduced in the camps, the war against drug abuse clubs, which is fantastic. One other important area of collaboration is the question of drug integrity tests for youth corps members.
“It’s a major drug demand reduction effort. The same way we said, if you are getting married, both the bride and the groom, should bring a drug free certificate.
“This is because it is always better to detect drug use early before it gets to addiction, which eventually could get to psychiatric problems and becomes a danger to the user and the society.”
Marwa further said the NYSC should consider posting corps members who studied Guidance and Counselling, Psychology, Nursing and Psychiatry to NDLEA Counselling and Treatment Centres across the country.
He said this will enable the corps members acquire knowledge and experience in rehabilitation and psychosocial services during their one year primary assignment.
In his response, the NYSC DG said the drug integrity test was a fantastic idea and promised to study the NDLEA proposal for possible collaboration.
He assured that the scheme will develop a general guideline to post as many corps members with required qualifications to NDLEA Counselling and Treatment Centres.
