NDLEA, patent medicine partner vendors on drug abuse
The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sought partnership with members of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) in the
The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sought partnership with members of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) in the fight against substance abuse.
It said members of NAPPMED were critical agents to address challenges of substance abuse and the illicit drug trade.
Commander of Edo NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, spoke in Benin City at the anti-drug abuse workshop organised by the agency.
Ofoyeju said the workshop was aimed to bridge the gap between regulation and community-level healthcare provision as well as ensure unity to address challenges of substance abuse and the illicit drug trade.
He said the trust reposed in the medicine vendors by the public was immense, and came with a huge responsibility that extended beyond dispensing medications to safeguarding public health against the scourge of drug abuse.
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The NDLEA boss said the workshop was designed to foster a stronger collaborative relationship between NAPPMED and the NDLEA for intelligence gathering and community protection, building a stronger defence system at the grassroots.
According to him, “When prescription drugs, psychoactive substances, and codeine-based cough syrups find their way into the wrong hands through unethical conduct, it can aggravate addiction, destroy families, and cripple the potential of our youth. The line between legitimate medicine and substance abuse is perilously thin. It is at this very junction that NAPPMED members stand as gatekeepers.
“We are not here to vilify but to collaborate. We recognise you as legitimate, caring business people who provide essential services. The NDLEA will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any erring member who violates the rules of engagement. Our aim is to empower you with knowledge so you can better protect your businesses, your communities, and our collective future from the devastation of drug abuse,” Mitchell assured.
Edo President of NAPPMED, Mrs Omueti Victoria, pledged to work with relevant stakeholders safeguarding public health against the scourge of drug abuse.
