By NICHOLAS DECHI

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Benue, Dr Joseph Ngbea, has advised Nigerians against abusing drugs like paracetamol.

Ngbea stated this on Monday during the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), organised by Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF), in partnership with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Makurdi.

The commissioner disclosed that abuse of paracetamol affected the liver.

He urged them to keep strictly to prescriptions to avoid abuse of drugs and subsequent damage to their body systems.

He further disclosed that the Ministry in partnership with ESLF and NDLEA, would put up a proposal to the state government to build rehabilitation centres in all the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

He pledged that the ministry would sustain its partnership with ESLF and NDLEA to ensure that WADA achieved success in the state.

Meanwhile, Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has attributed the rising cases of insecurity in the country to the increase in substance abuse.

Ortom said drug abuse had dealt heavily with the society, stressing that as such, all must come together to tackle it head on.

He commended his wife, Dr Eunice Ortom, for championing the fight against drug abuse in the state and country at large.

Also, Dr Eunice Ortom advised Nigerians to rub minds and fashion out ways on how to tackle the menace of drug abuse.

“Drug abuse is a global challenge and people should not allow it to ruin them, steal their joy or happiness.

“For President Muhammadu Buhari to launch WADA, it means that the menace needs to be tackled with all seriousness and determination.

“Almost everyone is affected by drug abuse in one way or the other,” she said.

She encouraged people not to write victims off rather, they should help them because they needed love, care, affection, assistance, advice, prayers, encouragement and counselling.

The state Commander, NDLEA, Mrs Esther Musa, lamented that cultivation of cannabis had taken over the cultivation of yams, cassava, maize and others in the state.

Musa called on all and sundry to assist the agency to nip the menace in the bud by volunteering information to her.

The Coordinating Programme Officer, ELSF, Miss Karen Yankyaa, said that a survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 14.4m Nigerians used and abused drugs. (NAN)

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