he abused drugs, according to it, include: cannabis, amphetamines, tramadol, codeine, and cocaine.
Lafiya360 reports that the government stressed that the drug abuse further exacerbates the situation of drug trafficking, which is not only a threat to the country’s security, but also to its development and health of the people.
While calling for the joint effort of all relevant stakeholders to address the prevalence of the situation, the government also urged Nigerians not to discriminate or stigmatize abusers of drugs, but to work towards helping them to overcome it.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, made this known during this year’s commemoration of the World Drug Day, with the theme: ‘People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.’
She said, “This year’s theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy; providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to punishment; prioritizing prevention; and leading with compassion.
“The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated the prevalence of drug use in Nigeria at 14.4 per cent corresponding to 14.3 million people between the ages of 15 to 64 who used drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, tramadol, codeine, and cocaine.
“This is more than twice the global prevalence of 5.6 per cent among the adult population. The report also estimated 376,000 people to be high risk drug users with 1 in 5 of these persons injecting drugs. This translates to about 80,000 people estimated to be People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Nigeria.g
“Seventy-eight per cent of those injecting drugs were men and the most common drugs injected were pharmaceutical opioids (such as tramadol, codeine, or morphine), followed by cocaine, heroin, and tranquilizers. It also estimated that among every four drug users in Nigeria, one is a woman; and that 1 in 5 persons who had used drugs in the past year is suffering from drug use disorders.
“Furthermore, the 2020 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) disclosed that people who inject drugs are at increased risk of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis B and C, in addition to overdose related deaths. The WHO also reported in 2015 that psychoactive drug use is responsible for more than 450,000 deaths per year.”