By Ehichioya Steve Odion
A Benin based NGO, Securing The Creative Goldmine in Youths Initiative recently gathered stakeholders in Benin City to brainstorm on the causes of drug abuse in the society and the need to eradicte it.
A communique made available to The Groove Watch News by the Executive Director, Comrade Asibor Edwin indicated that partucipants at the stakeholders dialogue were drawn from diverse MDAs and Civil Society Organizations.
The resource persons Prof. Ernest Ugiagbe and Dr. Mike Ndisika who facilitated the technical section on drug harm reduction, its effects on PWUDs and the society, listed reduction of Stigmatization and Criminilization of PWUDs within the context of human rights.
The communique also contained recommendations and solutions which includes reduction of stigmatization that is expected to start from the family.
Parents it stated should embrace dialogue, involve in their children in discussions and inculcate the right values in their wards while it charged school management to look out for pupils who use drugs and assist them to come out for help when necessary.
Religious bodies the communique stated have a role to play in the sensitization exercise just as it called for the political will from the government to set up programs for rehabilitation to enable PWUDs go through psychotherapeutic processes.
It consequently advocated the need for the government to also develope framework for equitable distribution of resources for the benefit of everyone.
Legal framework it added should not condemn drug users while it advised donor agencies to equally support through continuous sensitization programs.
The populace it advised should take responsibility by proffering solutions to societal problems, stressing that people should be arrested based on the crime they commit not for using drugs.
The communique also emphasised that drugs users are not criminals and irresponsible, emphasising that our justice system have got a role to play in curbing supply of drugs.
Also interagency collaboration it stated will go along way in addressing the issues while the media has a role to play in addressing them through positive reportage.
The stakeholders present at the dialogue meeting include, NDLEA, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, NSCDC, NAPTIP, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ministry of Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, the Enogie of Iguoge Community in Ovia North East LGA, Religious leaders from the Christian Community, the academia and sholars from UNIBEN Community, PWUD Community leaders, CSOS among others.
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