The Infotech Bridges Limited in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) and Federal Ministry of Justice have commenced a sensitisation advocacy program on drug abuse among youths in Dawakin Kudu local government area of Kano state.
The program was aimed at promoting mental health awareness within targeted communities and educating over 150 participants about the dangers and attendant implication of using and consuming illegal drugs among young people.
Chief executive officer of Infotech Bridges Limited, Ethel Odimegwu encouraged participants to received the lectures with open minds and adopt positive live changes.
He noted that the training would help to educate participants on the symptoms and dangers of drug abuse through relevant and tested techniques and intervention approaches in view of the cultural context of the region.
Also speaking, the Kano State commander of NDLEA, Abubakar Idris Ahmed while speaking at the event over the weekend, lamented the high prevalence rate of drugs in the area and said the training would help educate underage drinking, abuse of prescription drugs (pain killers) by youth, and abuse of alcohol.
On his own part, the consultant and representative of the Senate Committee on Drugs and narcotics, Amb. Kenneth Anetor said the Initiatives from the NDLEA and Hon. Mustapha Dawaki was part of the commitment of a ‘ New Thing International Foundation’ made during the first program and in line with their policy of discouraging consumption and abuse of hard drugs among youth in Kano.
He called for more volunteers to join the campaign and create an enduring awareness among the youths.
Kenneth added that the campaign would provide suicide prevention tips and techniques for participants and educate participants on the symptoms and dangers of drug abuse through relevant and tested techniques and intervention approaches in view of the cultural context of the region.
In his presentation the Assistant Manager for the Adolescent Health and Information, Mr Usman Garko Bello presentation on the Drug Prevention treatment and care ( DPTC ) curriculum developed by the United Natioms office on drugs and crime.
He commended the organizers of the programme just as he advocated for more support towards drug misuse sensitization initiatives in the state, from the urban to the rural areas.
Some of the recommendations made at the end of the event includes ; affordable and accessible drug treatment (evidence based) be available for people with drug use disorders, scaling up comprehensive package of services for prevention.
Others include, treatment and care of HIV among people who use drugs in community and prison settings as well as addressing stigma related to drug use and evidence-based drug use prevention programmes.
