PCN, others adopt new strategies at curbing drug abuse

PCN, others adopt new strategies at curbing drug abuse
NAN-HG-4
Codeine
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, Nov. 2, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Hashiya Ladan, the Jigawa Coordinator, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), says the council has introduced new measures to regulate the sales of codeine in patent medicine stores across the state.
Hashiya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednesday that the council, in collaboration with the State Government, issued license for the sale of such drug to only 287 health workers in 27 local government areas to ensure proper monitoring.
“The purpose of the exercise is to regulate the sales and distribution of the drug to check its abuse in the interest of the society.
“It is instructive to also note that the issuance of Patent and Propriety Medicines Vendors Licence is tailored to where pharmaceutical services are not readily available, such as the rural and hard-to-reach areas,” she said.
Hashiya, represented by the Administrative Officer of the council, Alhaji Shehu Hassan, disclosed that the council had registered 500 patent propriety vendors and 10 pharmacy shops to sale approved drugs to the public across the state.
The coordinator explained that the council shuts about 200 defaulting patent medicine shops every year because of close monitoring.
NAN reports that the mandate of PCN is enshrined in the Non-Poisons and Pharmacy Act Cap 152 of 1958 and Poisons Pharmacy Act Cap 535 (LFN) of 1990.
The Chief Pharmacist in charge of Rasheed Shekoni Specialists’ Hospital, Dutse, Mr Shuaibu Bala, also told NAN that the state government has adopted strategies aimed at controlling the consumption and abuse of sensitive drugs.
Bala described codeine, benalin, tramadol and other mood enhancing drugs as a drug that suppresses the central nervous system.
He said taking them in excess could intoxicate, making one to feel ‘so high’ that he or she could commit any type of crime.
“It is when the drug finished working that the person will come back to his normal sense and start regretting his or her actions,” he said.
On his part, the Chief Iman of Dutse Central Mosque, Ustaz Sani Birninkudu, admonished youths and women indulging in drug abuse to stop the act forthwith for the sake of their health.
He also advised them to stop wasting time precious time and life on adverse social media that encourages crime or social vices.
Birninkudu noted that consumption of hard drugs could lead to offences like rape, robbery, thuggery, suicide and murder, among others.
Meanhwile, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state said it arrested 677 suspected drug dealers and recovered 2,260 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs between January 2016 and July 2017.
The state Commander of the agency, Mrs Josephine Obi, disclosed this in her address to mark the 2017 United Nations’ Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Obi said that from January to December 2016, 382 suspects were arrested and 1,380.71 kilograms of cannabis and other psychotropic substances were seized.
She added that the agency secured the conviction of 84 suspects, adding that 68 suspects were convicted within the period.
The commander said that from January 2017 to date, the agency arrested 295 suspects and seized 878.91 kilogrammes of illegal drugs from them.
However, she identified lack of rehabilitation centre as the major constraint militating against the operations of the command in the state.
She said that families with children in need of rehabilitation were being referred to neighbouring states and appealed to well-meaning individuals and organisations to assist the command with financial and material support.
In a related development, the wife of Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Asamau Ibrahim Idris, has launched the war against illicit drug consumption by women and youths on Wednesday in Dutse. (NAN)
AIS/ASH/MST
Edited by Abdullahi Salihu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola