The Kwara State Commandant, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Olusegun Oke, has expressed worries over increasing abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPs).
He also noted that there had been a number of unexplained suicides with preceding use of synthetic cannabinnoids.
Oke identified some NPS as mephedrone and tramadaol, which he stated, had sometimes been associated with fatalities.
He hoped that appropriate actions would be taken by the United Nations to reduce the abuse of NPs.
Oke spoke during a media conference in Ilorin on Monday, in commemoration of the United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The theme of the campaign is ‘New psychoactive substances’ while the slogan is “Make health your ‘new high’ in life not drugs.”
Oke stated that the use of NPS was often linked to health problems, adding that users had frequently been hospitalised with severe intoxications.
The NDLEA boss stated that NPs were not under international control, although he noted that many countries had established permanent control measures for some NPS or issued temporary bans.
He added that NPs present a significant challenge for prevention and treatment efforts.
Oke stated that psychoactive substances were chemical substances that affect the brain causing changes in behaviour, mood and consciousness.
According to him, while these drugs can be used therapeutically to treat both physical and psychological disorder, they are used recreationally to alter mood, perceptions and consciousness like cannabis, hallucinogens, narcotics, depressants and stimulants.
“New psychoactive substances are sometimes referred to as ‘legal highs’ and are multiplying in number and becoming more widespread geographically, as well as causing more concerns as efforts to contain them are getting difficult.
“I want to believe that the UN will move further to increase those drugs that would fall into the list of control, having realised that some of these drugs are on their own consequent to fatality.
“The UN is likely to propose that brackets should be opened for some of the new psychoactive substances to be controlled. But for now, they are not controlled by the Convention of 61 and 71,” he said.
The commandant said the command had arrested 148 drug suspects in 60 operations/patrols and seized 898.715kg of drugs between July 2012 and June 2013.
He added that the 148 drugs suspects comprised 139 males and nine females while the seized 898.715kg of drugs were made up of 546.328kg of cannabis sativa and 352.387kg of psycho active drugs.
Oke also said that the command secured 18 convictions, counselled 178 persons and rehabilitated 28 people.
While noting the laudable efforts of the Federal and Kwara State governments and other stakeholders towards the anti-drug war, he appealed for more support and assistance from them.
He reiterated the determination and commitment of the command to the anti-drug campaign. Oke added that the command had been collaborating with some institutions, schools, National Youth Service Corps, traditional and religious agencies to rid the state of drugs.
He also said the command would intensify raids on drug, flash points and public awareness campaign on drug-related issues.
Oke said that Kwara State was in a strategic position in the country to fight drug. This, he noted, informed the drug war strategy of the agency.
He stated that the command seized about 200kg of illicit drugs during its last arrest, adding that the seized drugs were not meant for Kwara State but was on transit.
The NDLEA boss said that findings from the agency’s ‘stop and search’ efforts in the state had revealed that psychoactive drugs pass through the inter-state road network through the state.
Oke, however, added that the quantity of drugs that the command had seized 12 within the town was very minimal.
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