Senate Commence Moves to Check Drug Abuse in Nigeria

The Red Chamber of the National Assembly has therefore mandated the joint committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Health to investigate the abuse of cough syrup and other prescription drugs and recommend legislative interventions to combat the trend.
This followed a motion moved by Senator ‎BABA KAKA, who represents Borno Central Senatorial District, with the support of thirty-eight other senators, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, which was observed yesterday.
The lawmakers expressed worries that the abuse of codeine syrup and other controlled drugs currently constitute the greatest challenge to drug regulatory officers alike in the north.
Senator KAKA said more than three million bottles of codeine syrup are consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa states alone, with each addict taking in between three and eight bottles daily.
During the deliberation that followed, the Senators urged the Federal Government to partner with relevant stakeholders to create a holistic framework in fighting drug abuse, particularly in northern Nigeria.
The lawmakers also urged the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to embark on a vigorous sensitization campaign on the dangers of drug abuse and steps to achieving successful rehabilitation for people with addiction.