Brig Mohamed Marwa (RTD), chairman of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said the driving force for drug integrity testing for Youth Corps members, potential couples, etc. is not punitive, but to prevent substance abuse.
He added that it is also providing early treatment for those who are positive for drug diseases, in which their condition degenerates into drug dependence and other health challenges.
Marwa expressed this in a meeting with Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps. NAFIU led top NYSC officials to conduct a polite visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, April 23.
The NDLEA boss said: “The drug scourge continues to destroy our children, families, communities, everywhere, you are in a place where there is no drug abuse problem in the country.
“You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs. Nevertheless, besides that, we must work with all stakeholders, including NYSC, to ensure that the demand for drugs is greatly reduced in young people, and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity tests, which we advocate that NYSC support CORPS members.
“As I said, while we reduce the drug supply, we also reduce the drug demand through preventive measures and consultation and rehabilitation. Now, these are important areas for further collaboration. It’s great that you have introduced a war against drug abuse clubs in the camp.
“Another important area of collaboration is the issue of drug integrity testing targeting members of the Youth Corps. This is the main need to reduce the drug demand.
“In the same way, if you are getting married, both the bride and groom should bring a drug-free certificate. This is because it is always better to find out early to take drugs before you get addicted, which can ultimately lead to mental illness. This poses a danger to users and society.”
Another area of collaboration, he said, is to release a large number of legion members who study coaching and counseling, psychology, nursing and psychiatry nationwide as NDLEA counseling and treatment centers that they serve as their primary mission during their one year of national service.
This will allow Legion members to gain knowledge and experience in rehabilitation and psychosocial services, he said.
NYSC DG described drug integrity testing as a wonderful idea in his response and promised to study the NDLEA proposal for possible collaboration.
