Abuja, Dec. 14, 2018 (NAN) – Dr Hope Abraham, the President, Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) says that addiction is actually a brain disease.
Abraham told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja Nigeria that drug addiction was a chronic brain disease.
According to him, drugs facilitate certain chemicals in the brain, which in turn modify the brain’s functionally and structurally to give the resultant sufferings that addicts face.
He said « addiction is a voluntary action. Once you decide to taste or use a particular drug just because your friend is doing same, then you have chosen to have brain disease.
« Most youths do not know the damages illicit drug consumption would do to them.
« Let me just take a little has landed some in the grave. Death is the sad end of illicit drug consumption. »
The NGO president said that success in demand reduction was crucial, adding that permanent success in the fight against drug abuse depended on supply and demand reduction.
« Seized drugs, police raids and sting operations grab headlines, but prevention, treatment and rehabilitation are equally important in curbing the drug problem.
« Supply and demand of these drugs are equal evils, which must be attacked simultaneously and with similar vigour and conviction, » he stressed.
Abraham said that the best treatment for drug addiction was that which would encourage drug addicts to come forward and seek help.
« Ideally, drug treatment should include counselling, guidance, motivation, medical treatment, rehabilitationand social integration.
« Treatment programmes should be individualised and geared to the addict’s situation and personal problems, »the NGO chief said.
According to him, most prevention campaigns focused on youths, and the longer initiation into drug use can be delayed, the less likely it is to begin or if it does begin, to become compulsive.
« Other target groups of prevention campaigns include women, minorities, street children, workers and prisoners; all of whom have special needs and concern, » he added.
Abraham said that school-based activities, especially in secondary schools, were the most widespread form of drug abuse prevention.
He added that « recently, we visited secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to partner with them to help curb the menace of drug abuse.
« We would continue to ensure that the society was free of drug peddlers. »
He urged everyone to join in the fight against drug abuse and to ensure that the territory was free.
« Youth movements, sports clubs and religious organisations can help people to stay in drug-free environments, » Abraham stressed.
