NDLEA cautions medicine vendors against controlled drugs

Mr Ahmed Mamuda, State Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA), Rivers, has advised Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers practitioners (NAPPMED) members to desist from selling controlled drugs.

Mamuda gave the advice on Wednesday during a workshop organised by NDLEA in collaboration with NAPPMED at Obiakpor Local Government Area (LGA) in Port Harcourt.

Mamuda said workshop the was part of the efforts to achieve the mandate of the agency through a programme code-named War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).

The workshop had as its theme: “The Role of NAPPMED in Curbing the Menace of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”

He reminded the participants about the legal implications of dealing on illegal drugs, consequences of substance abuse; and their roles and social responsibility to the society in that regard.

Mamuda said some of the illegal drugs were tramadol, cocaine, cannabis, tramadol royal shrubbery flavour, rohypnol, amphetamines, lexotan.

He said the list also included ephedrine tabs, librium capdextrose injection, phenobal injection, diazepam tablets, codeine syrup.

He urged NAPPMED members to assist NDLEA in enlightening youths who come to patronise them on the consequences of drug abuse.

Mamuda said that teaching the youths the effect and consequences of drug abuse would help to promote a drug-free society.

Mr Vincent Uwakwe, Chairman, NAPPMED, Obio/Akpor Unitsaid that the award of the WADA advocate conferred on him would inspire him and his team to work more effectively with NDLEA.

Uwakwe said the workshop was an eye opener to members most of whom he said, were yet to fully appreciate their social responsibilities.

He said drug abuse would reduce if every segment of the society played its anti-drugs role effectively.

The chairman urged members of the association to be law abiding, saying that any member caught by NDLEA would face the full consequences of his or her action.

Mrs Stella-Maris Amede, Assistant State Commander Drug Demand Reduction Unit (DDRU), NDLEA Rivers, identified many factors behind drug abuse.

She spoke on the “Consequences of Substance Abuse” and outlined some of the effects drug abuse as decreased motivation and concentration, suspicious of others,

She said some for the factors responsible for indulging in drugs were dropping out of school, mental disorder, and emotional trauma.

She identified NAPPMED as a strategic partner in the fight against drug abuse and urged its members to ensure that they deal on only drugs registered with appropriate authorities.