ILLICIT DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION APPROACH
BY: Chief Ezechukwu N OBONNA
@ISSUP, ISAAC, WFAD
Former SA on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs.
Drug Demand Reduction:
Drug demand reduction means reducing the demand for illicit drugs and other substances by the way of discouraging and preventing the initial use of drugs, intervening early with occasional or non-dependent drug users, and treating the adverse health and social consequences of dependency through treatment, rehabilitation, and aftercare programs.
It can also to described as efforts aimed at reducing the public desire for illegal and illicit drugs. The drug policy is in contrast to the reduction of drug supply, but the two policies are often implemented together.
The Directorate Of Drug Demand Reduction
This is the directorate of the NDLEA that is responsible for the entrenchment of anti-drug culture in society. It routinely conducts Drug Abuse Preventive Education (DAPE) programmes such as seminars, workshops and awareness campaigns etc across the country to enlighten young people against the consumption and trafficking of these illicit drugs.
The duties of the Drug Demand directorate of the NDLEA also includes the development of drug awareness and drug abuse preventive education curricula for schools.
As the directorate in charge of the Treatment and Rehabilitation programme of NDLEA, it is responsible for:
1. Maintenance and operation of the Agency’s treatment and rehabilitation centres.
2. Professional treatment of drug addicts and their rehabilitation, in conjunction with relevant specialist treatment centres, public agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
The directorate interfaces with NGOs involved in drug demand activities, while it continuously conducts specialized research that gives insights into patterns and trends, strategies and techniques to curb drug abuse.
The goal of the Drug Demand Reduction Directorate of the NDLEA is to deploy all resources at their disposal for the total eradication of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, by cutting off the supply of illicit drugs and bringing suppliers to book, reducing the demand for illicit drugs and other substances of abuse and tracing and recovering drug-related.
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