Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were present on Sunday 18th August 2024 at SS Peter & Paul Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife. 

The purpose of their visit was to sensitize faithful on the prevailing drug related matters in the society; an activity which falls under drug demand reduction campaign – War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).

The campaign emphasized on three key notes; “That drug abuse ends all dreams,’ ‘Addiction to drug destroy lives, tears apart families while harming the society’ and ‘Abuse of substance is a weapon of mass destruction.’ 

The leader of the team, Mrs AdegokeToyin, who is the Assistant Area Commander, Ile-Ife Area Command described drug as anything taken into the body either by injection, oral or thereabout that affects the function of the body.

Furthermore, she considered drug abuse as wrongful act of drug consumption. According to her, there are several ways in which drugs can be abused. Among them are: Drug intake when it is medically unnecessary and intake of prohibited substances. 

She considered some socially consumed substances such as cigarette, kolanut, alcoholic drinks among drugs that are abused, however not without mentioning the likes of Cannabis, Cough syrup, Tramadol, Kerosene, Gasoline including several others.

Toyin realized that students take substance during examination to keep them awake for rush-hour studies instead of studying before the examination period. She noted that drug becomes misused when consumed without following the necessary medical prescription and instructions, where abuser according to her may end up taking more or less than the required dose.

In her opinion, the cause of death of thousands per year can be traced back to the abuse of common paracetamol. 

Toyin, in an interview educated that there is no need for commuters to be frightened during stop-and-search activities on the road. She disclosed that those that are innocent are never intimidated. Among indices used in determining possible drug abusers according to her are facial looks, dark lips, confidence challenge, reactive tendency and several others.

The Assistant Commandant disclosed further that their actions are not always to make arrest but rather cultivating a culture of prevention. Her reason is that it is always very difficult for people with mental illness as a result of drug abuse to be rehabilitated back as perfect human being.

Parent were encouraged never to let loose their children and ward but rather check on them frequently as it relates to drugs, even without prior notice.