The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is to rehabilitate 40,000 drug users by 2025.

The President of the vanguard, Dr Hope Abraham made this known on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Abuja! with the theme entitled: “Better Knowledge for Better Care.”

According to him, the theme stems from the array of misinformation that have plagued the field concerned with addressing the drug problem.

“The theme aims at improving the understanding of the world drug problem and fostering greater international co-operation for countering its impact on Health, Government, and Security.

“One of the main objectives of VGADA is sensitisation on drug abuse and that is why VGADA over her past two years of operation has consistently spearheaded activities that aimed at sensitising.

“Also providing the correct information about drug use, dangers associated with it and the risk factors that predispose to it.

“This is because we recognise that correct information about drug abuse improves knowledge of drug abuse which invariably translate into better drug use habit, ” he said.

Abraham said that the group would launch the “Project 40,000” by Aug. 12, adding that the peer educator course manual and lesson materials would be based on the truth about drugs by the Drug-Free World Foundation, U.S.

According to him, aside helping these young people recover, they will also be equipped in taking the right information about drug abuse to others.

“Together, through concerted efforts and advocacy by CSOs, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations, we can be assured of developing a working alternative to illicit drug production and trafficking.

“As well as advance appropriate justice response, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in manners that give a high premium to human rights and are sensitive to young people, women, and unrepresented groups,” he said.

Newsmen report that the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (World Drug Day) is celebrated globally and annually every June 26.

Abraham said that the day was specifically earmarked by the UNODC to highlight the danger of drug abuse and bring awareness to people and how to deal with it.

He said that the group would also embark among other projects Miss VGADA and Face of VGADA Nigeria 2020 mainly to be used in curbing the menace of drugs.

The VGADA boss said that the platforms were created for young women to avail them opportunities to become ambassadors in the campaign against drug abuse.

He added that it would be another avenue to be at the forefront nationally and internationally in sensitising and providing correct information on drug abuse among women and the general population.

According to him, we are elated that the UNODC has chosen this theme for 2020 and it is only a call for us to put in more effort in sensitisation by drumming up more activities that will bridge the know-do gap.

“This is a major requirement if we are to win the war against drug abuse.

“We join our voice to the UNODC’s to call on well-meaning CSOs, National and International agencies to also make it a priority to disseminate correct information on drug abuse.

“This would enable the populace get information in order to ensure widespread adoption of healthy drug use habit,” he.

Abraham however, commended the Presidential Advisory Committee on Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) on the effort put in to draw up recommendations on how to tackle the drug abuse menace in Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

 

NAN