By Maryam Abeeb
The Chairman of the Abuja branch of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, AHAPN, Pharm. Hafsat Avosuahi Ismaila, has expressed worries stigmatization of drug addicts, saying it discourages ending the habit.
She made the disclosure during the Association’s 4th Scientific Week and Commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Abuja.
According to her , people who abuse drugs and other substances are actually victims who deserve sympathy, and not criminals as they are widely perceived by the public.
“People that are abusing drugs are actually victims. They are not criminals. If we keep on stigmatizing them, it can hamper their zeal to seek for help. These people are helpless. We have to empathize with them and encourage them to leave their drug habits,” stated Ismaila.
Ismaila also disclosed that the Association is taking its sensitization campaigns on drug abuse to schools in the FCT, to make students aware of the dangers and effects of drug abuse, adding that the Association has instituted a Drug Abuse Club at the Government Secondary School, Asokoro, as a pilot project, to ensure that students familiarize themselves with issues of drugs and their uses and abuse.
Also speaking at the event was Pharm. Lilian Agwaza, chairman of the local organizing committee of the event, who stated that concerted effort is being made to checkmate the abuse of drugs amongst children who have now overtaken the youths and adults in the illicit practice.
“The age range for drug abuse used to be from teenage to adult age, but now, it has gone down to even 7 years. So, it is now of a higher prevalence, making it a very serious problem,” averred Agwaza.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking is celebrated annually on the 26th of June, and the theme for this year’s celebration is “People First: Stop Stigma And Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.” On this day, diverse pharmaceutical bodies in Nigeria organize assorted activities to commemorate the important date. And as a professional body, AHAPN organized a series of scientific expositions to bring to fore the innovative feats that have been undertaken by some of its members.
Part of the innovations discussed during this year’s Scientific Week was the impact of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine, TRAM, in contemporary hospital pharmacy practice.
