President Bola Tinubu has vowed to tackle illicit use of drug in Nigeria by raising consciousness of the threats that it poses to society.
He equally warned against the social and structural stigmatisation of drug use victims, which he said prevents them from accessing needed care and support.
Speaking on the occasion of the celebration of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, he expressed his endorsement of the theme of the celebration which is “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention”.
He said the theme stresses the imperative to prioritize the well-being and dignity of individuals affected by drug abuse, recognising their inherent worth and the importance of providing them with effective prevention and treatment interventions.
Tinubu stated: “We could not agree less with the importance of this theme now that the most vulnerable population, especially women, young people, people living in marginalised environments, high-risk drug users, people displaced by armed conflicts or natural disasters and people in rural settings, are exposed to stigma, discrimination and exclusion from mainstream opportunities.
“These groups often face barriers in accessing the healthcare and social services within the society in addressing their drug use problems. Therefore, interventions to address drug use and its associated consequences need to be mindful of the fundamental rights of every individual.
Stigma both social and structural, which continues to affect people who use drugs and implicated as one of the most common barriers to access support and services must be removed.”
The president noted that educating the citizenry on the dangers of drug abuse and the need to stop stigma and discrimination is crucial, calling for support for those affected.
