By Doyin Ojosipe
In a move to stem the rise in illicit use of narcotic drugs and other controlled substances in the country, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are jointly working on National Drug-Control Master Plan that will be implemented within the period of four years.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday , the newly appointed NDLEA Director-General, Mrs. Roli Bode George explained that the master plan is designed to ensure strict control of the proliferation, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs as well as drug demand and reduction.
Furthermore, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii also revealed that a measure of success has been recorded in the control of drug abuse and illicit drug, adding that the re –categorization of codeine-containing syrup, which was widely abused from over-the-counter drug, to a prescription only drug, has shown a drastic reduction in the incidence of abuse of this drug.
He also revealed that NAFDAC is currently working towards collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), in capacity-building for pharmacists and doctors in the country on how to store, prescribe and dispense pain-relief narcotics in the country.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
