Young pharmacists commit to fight against drug abuse

Lagos State Coordinator, Young Pharmacists Group of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Funmbi Okoya, has said with cannabis use amongst students being as high as 21.2 per cent in parts of the country, young Nigerians should be given the necessary information to avoid drug abuse.

Okoya said the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PFN) has played a vital role in the fight against drug abuse through various activities and initiatives. He stated that the most notable one has been the pharmacists’ partnership with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the Youth Against Drug Abuse (YADA) project, a school-based programme aimed at informing children on the dangers of drug abuse; and parents on the signs to look out for; as well as rendering help to those already on drugs.

In a chat with The Guardian, Okoya said: “As community pharmacists are the first point of contact for patients and the most accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists need to be trained to be first respondents to this growing drug abuse epidemic.”

As a result, numerous trainings are being organised by PSN-YPG in partnership with agencies and organisations like NAFDAC, Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), among others.”