On Monday, President Bola Tinubu expressed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and its international partners in combating the problem of drug abuse.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders to adopt a people-focused strategy in tackling drug addiction, acknowledging that addicts are human beings who require empathy and assistance to recover from the destructive cycle of substance abuse.
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, at the national conference to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, at the State House, Abuja emphasized that interventions aimed at addressing drug use and its consequences should consider the individual and tackle the societal stigma associated with this issue.
His words: “I want to assure everyone, including our local and international partners, of this administration’s unwavering support for the sustenance of drug control efforts.
“Therefore, interventions to address drug use and its associated consequences need to be mindful of the fundamental individual. Stigma, both social and structural, which is one of the commonest barriers to access support and services must be removed.”
Tinubu further urged stakeholders to educate themselves and the public about the perils of drug abuse while emphasizing the importance of combating stigma and discrimination.
