The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has asked the Nigerian authorities to deal with drug addicts as patients who need treatment, rather than handling them like criminals.

Speaking at a two-day media personnel training on anti-corruption, police accountability, wildlife crime and sensitisation on drugs prevention, treatment and care, on Tuesday, Oliver Stolpe stated that the UNODC’s mission was to increase public awareness of the distinct differences between drug traffickers and users, emphasising that the two should never be be lumped as one.

“We have always been advocates to make sure that we are clearly distinguishing between crimes of drug trafficking, as opposed to the issue of drug use, which we consider primarily to be a health issue, and that should be dealt with as such,” Mr Stolpe said Tuesday. “Addiction is a health condition, it is not a choice.”

The UNODC official noted that people found “in possession of drugs should be principally dealt with as patients and should have access to the necessary treatment and counselling services” to overcome their “drug use condition.”

Mr Stolpe further spoke against a proposed law by the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency to impose a death penalty on drug traffickers, asserting that “it doesn’t make sense” since there was “no proof” such law would be effective in deterring traffickers.

“On the death sentence of drug traffickers, as it is proposed by the Senate, you’re all aware of the legislative process it needs now to go back to the house. We are expecting the House to vote this down,” Mr Stolpe added. “Our stand as UN is clear on the death penalty. We are principally and categorically against it. And from a very practical viewpoint, I have to say, it doesn’t make sense.”

According to Nkereuwem Ebithi, a consultant with the UNODC, people tend to be more sympathetic towards their relatives who are drug abusers than strangers suffering from drug addiction.

Mr Ebithi asked that all drug users be viewed equally as people in need of rehabilitation.

He implored government agencies to come up with more effective communication tools to discourage drug use as posters alone with inscriptions like ‘Say No To Drugs’ have proved to be futile.