Mr Cheikh Toure, the Regional Programme Coordinator on Support to ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, has joined other concerned individuals to condemn the excessive abuse of illicit drugs in the region.
Tour expressed worries over the non-medical use of Tramadol by youths in West Africa, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, at the end of UNODC launch of the West African Drug Report 2014-2017.
He noted the growing presence of illicit drugs especially Tramadol, in markets across the region.
According to him, a recent report on unemployment linked drug abuse to unemployment stating that unemployment was high in the region.
He noted that although Tramadol was a problem in the region, there should be a balance because of people who need it in the treatment of terminal illnesses.
“Tramadol is a problem and also we have to ensure that those who suffer from terminal disease with chronic pain, have access to pain medicine but if this medicine is diverted by criminals, actions should be taken.
” But I think this is why we have to strike a balance to ensure that the state regulatory board take themselves seriously and control this type of medications coming into Africa, to ensure that those drugs are used for what it is intended for.”
Prof.Isidore Obot, Director, Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) in Uyo, said that the issue of illicit trafficking of drug like Tramadol was becoming a global issue.
He said that those undergoing treatment according to UNODC report, were children from 10 to 19 years, stating that early prevention advocacy from primary school was needed to curb this menance.
Obot said that teachers and parents had a role to play on drug abuse prevention, stating that control measures was needed at this point for the consumption of Tramadol.
“The issue of concerns to people in the region and across the world is the use of Tramadol, the abuse of Tramadol Which is a potent pain killer analgesic drugs , this is a drug that we never heard about some years ago.
” But now, you can get it anywhere and Cannabis remain a big problem in the region.
‘” We find large number of very young people from 10 years old going for treatment because of drugs.
“Which means they might have started way too young, that is something we need to look into.
”Tramadol is a very important pharmaceutical substance used to moderate severe pain, what needs to be done is a form of control.
“The Tramadol for prescription is not usually abused, the Tramadol that is abused are usually manufactured from the illicit market, alot of enforcement is really needed .
“Prevention is the beginning of wisdom, we need to intervene much early.
” One lesson we should learn is not just to focus on interventions from just secondary school children, we need to start from primary school.
” We should start the prevention programme and awareness programme early, parents and teachers have a role to play and it is a wake up call for us in the region.”
Also, Mr Oliver Stolpe, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Representative in Nigeria, said that the non-medical use of prescription such as Tramadol appeared to be growing rapidly in the region.
He said that there was a dramatic increase in Tramadol seizures from 17 tonnes in 2014 to about 232 tonnes in 2017 which calls for concerted effort.
According to him, the fact that more than 60 tonnes of Tramadol seized in 2017 were in transit to other countries, emphasises the need for increased cooperation and intelligence sharing among countries in the region.
“The most frequently used drug across the region remains cannabis and the majority of persons accessing treatment facilities do so to tackle cannabis related drug use disorders.
“Of particular concern in this context is that, one in five persons who accesses drug treatment services were younger adults of between age 10 and 19 years old.
“The non-medical use of prescription such as Tramadol appears to be growing most rapidly.
“The coming into existence of a massive illicit Tramadol market in just a few years, is of great concern to citizens and governments in the region,”
Similarly, Baba Oseni, Director, Drug Demand Reduction of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), reiterated the agency’s commitment towards the fight against drug trafficking.
He said that most of the drug users that visited the agency’s rehabilitation centres were youth nothing that it targeted sensitisation efforts to address the youth and sensitisee them on drugs.
“The NDLEA has been committed to support all the efforts of the sub-region both in terms of supply reduction and demand reduction.
“We have seven counselling centres with the efforts and support of our friends and we hope to increase the number as soon as possible so that we can have more data.”(NAN)
