The conference promoted by the NDLEA was co-organized with Good Hope Foundation (an initiative of the Imo First Lady) and the State Ministry of Women Affairs on June 26, 2023.
The conference gathered the spouses of sole administrators selected from the 27 local government areas while the spouse of Imo State Governor, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma was represented by the spouse of the speaker of the state assembly, Mrs Chike Olemgbe.
The Imo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abubakar Liman Wali informed the audience that in a resolute effort to ensure Imo State was free of drugs, the state NDLEA command conducted trainings on substance misuse prevention and management for 78 personnel in the secondary education sector which composed of teachers, counselors and school administrators.
Other personnel trained were 50 security officers chosen from the Armed Forces, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
According to the NDLEA chief, the conference was in observance of the United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme, “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”.
Wali mentioned that 25 substance-dependent individuals were successfully rehabilitated at their rehab center, adding that they have trained personnel that aid individuals in overcoming substance dependence.
He asserted that the agency had collaborated with several schools, some of which participated in a quiz, pick and act, speak out campaigns and cultural dance.
The state NDLEA Assistant Commander, Operations, Shehu Lamuwa in a lecture listed some of the causes of substance misuse to include: availability, accessibility, affordability, extreme poverty, economic instability, insecurity, negative advertisement, get rich or die-trying mindset, corruption of the criminal justice system, lack of clear anti-drug misuse policy committee from state governments, among others.
According to him, substance misuse happens in stages, starting from experimentation, occasional/infrequent use, regular use and then dependence or addiction.
Lamuwa expressed regret that out of four substance users, one is a female, adding that cannabis, methamphetamine (mpkurummiri/guzoro), cocaine, tramadol, marijuana, cigarette, shisha and alcohol were highly prevalent within the state.
He appealed to the spouses of sole administrators to reach out to other women in their communities, to assume their responsibility of influencing their family members towards positivity and reject substance use.
According to him, the use of hard drugs causes lung cancer, liver cirrhosis, physical, social and mental problems.
Lamuwa appealed against stigmatization of individuals recovering from substance misuse and urged people to refer such individuals to NDLEA for help and rehabilitation.
He listed some prevention efforts to include stop early drug use and involvement of experts in the management of substance issues.
There was a display of different drugs before the participants to enable them see it and recognize it especially when used by children of school age.
To ensure a drug-free state, Lamuwa called for the establishment of substance misuse control committees, school substance misuse protection and teacher training programs, training of president-generals of communities on substance-use prevention.
Others are to assist the NDLEA to curb substance use, design policies to stop substance problem in collaboration with traditional institutions. He emphasized the need for philanthropic individuals and companies to commit themselves to social responsibility for a healthy society.