US-based Nigerian medical practitioner seeks use of data to fight drug abuse

Dr. Nelson Aluya, a US-based Nigerian medical practitioner, has urged the Federal Government to employ data in the fight against the menace of drug abuse, drug use disorder, and mental health among youths.

He said the use of data was essential and must be accessible for Nigeria to make progress in the fight against drug abuse.

Aluya said this via a virtual meeting organized by the Re-Orientation Advocacy of Nigeria (RAN) in Abuja as part of activities to mark the 2023 World Drug Day in Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Charles Folayan, Executive Director, RAN, and Director General, Ann Foundation, Mrs. Ann Ehigiator, in preparation for the flag-off of drug prevention, treatment, and care programs across Nigeria.

Aluya, a Professor of Medicine at the New Jersey Medical School and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Newark Community Health Center Inc., said data remained the first step to solving drug abuse.

He said Nigerians in the diaspora were working to support RAN in carrying out national research on drug abuse, especially the root causes, and coming up with a blueprint for a strategy to stem drug and substance abuse in Nigeria.

Aluya also called on the government to build a template for fighting drug abuse, which would be a way forward for all African countries.

He said drug addiction and overdose had become a global socio-political problem with severe economic implications.

“It is noteworthy that illicit drug trafficking, use, and addiction constitute a significant share of the global burden of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C, especially among those who are intravenous drug users.

“There is also a strong causal association between drug trafficking, drug addiction, and increasing trends in violent crimes and now even terrorism,” he said.

Accordingly, it is disturbing that Nigeria, as the most populous black nation and the largest economy in Africa, has yet to initiate a clear direction and enforce its national policy or declaration on illicit drug use and overdose.

He said Nigeria had a pivotal role to play and should get ahead of the curve to champion this cause for Africa and other black nations to emulate.