Douglas Blessing
National Association of Seadogs(NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity said they are collaborating with National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Neuropsychiatric Hospital Port Harcourt, to fight against menace of drug abuse in Rivers State.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization programme on drug abuse organised by NAS in Port Harcourt, Mr Iche Cecil-Wordu, Capoon, Olympus Marino Deck of the group, lamented the increasing number of young people abusing different types of Narcotics.
He disclosed that NAS is collaborating with the Rivers state branch of the NDLEA and Neuropsychiatric Hospital Port Harcourt, in the war to save young people from dangerous effect of intake of illicit drugs.
Cecil-Wordu added that with the collaboration there will be an improved awareness about the linkages between drug use and mental health and how to combat it, stressing that the rise in the menace has overwhelmed neuropsychiatric hospitals and the NDLEA.
“We have realised that government regulatory agencies lack the level of support they need and the facilities to address the overwhelming rise in these challenges. There is a need to increase collaboration with other agencies to address this problem of drug abuse.
“There should be an increased system and frameworks to support recovery from drug abuse.Collaboration should be in place to develop the facility to win people off illegal substances.
“We also realised that drugs have become easier to get and used across the society in the current times. The rise in these challenges has overwhelmed neuropsychiatric hospitals and the NDLEA. They are almost overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who throngs their facility almost on a daily bases.”
He stressed the need for proper funding of the neuropsychiatric hospital and the NDLEA to do the task which they were created for.
In his address, consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director of Port Harcourt Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dr. Victor Ojiaku, advised the government to stifle all importation of drugs into the country so as to reduce the availability rate.
“If drugs are not available, people will not see it to buy. So the government should through the NDLEA stop the importation of the drugs through the ports so that there would be a reduced tendency for the youths abuse drugs.
“Also there should be enough personnel in the hospital for treatment. If the medical personnel are not well demonstrated there would be brain drain. There are only a few of us that are around to attend to patients. Also, Advocacy will help to bring the issue to front burners to let the people the adverse effects of drugs,” he advised.
On her part, Assistant state commander, Drug Demand Reduction Unit, NDLEA Rivers state, Stella-Maris Amede, noted that the agency lacks logistics for regular advocacy and sensitisation.
