The state commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA), Rivers, Ahmed Mamuda, has advised the Nigerian association of patent and proprietary medicine dealers practitioners(NAPPMED) members to desist from selling controlled drugs.

Mr 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.

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

The workshop’s theme was “the role of NAPPMED in curbing the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.”

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

Mr 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, and codeine syrup.

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

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

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

Mr 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 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.

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 of drug abuse as decreased motivation and concentration and being suspicious of others, amongst other effects. 

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

(NAN)