The 2021 World Drug Report, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, says that Africa will witness 40 percent growth in the number of people who use illicit drugs.
Lagos State alone is currently having 33 percent drug use prevalent among young ones.
The country Representative of UNODC, Oliver Stolpe at an event which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja recently held that “The findings should be an issue of concern to Africa, it leaders and other relevant agencies, to think whether they are doing the right thing especially with the dimension, drug trafficking has taken. Another source of worry is that illicit drug is predominantly moving into the web. The rising sales over the internet, could transform global patterns of drug distribution and use.”
According to UNODC, from 2011 to mid-2017, 80 million dollars of drugs were merchandised across the dark net. While from mid-2017 to 2020, it became 4 times higher.
“In high income countries, like Europe and US there is slight reduction of prevalence of drug use, while in middle and low income countries and of course Africa, drug use prevalence is increasing dramatically, we are talking about 40% increase being projected by 2030, meaning that in Nigeria, we are likely going to have 20million drug users by 2030 and I don’t need to say what an incredible burden that will constitute to both public health institution and public security. This is a wake up call for all of us to increase our efforts in addressing the drug use epidemic in the country”
Oliver added.
Explaining the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on drug use, the country representative said “From the evidence tabled before the world, the Coronavirus pandemic, has accelerated some drug trafficking patterns. There are large shipment size, increased use of private aircraft, increase use of water routes, contactless methods to deliver drugs to end consumers. The fear now is, that the post-COVID economic crisis will have the greatest impact on drug markets. Food insecurity may intensify illicit drug cultivation and production, a protracted economic crisis, may accelerate progression to drug disorders, judging from the report that between 119 and 124 million people were pushed into extreme poverty, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which witnessed the loss of 225 million full time jobs.”
Also present at the event to lend their voices were
Professor Isidore Obot, Centre for Research & Information & Substance Abuse and Dr Musa Umar, Director Narcotics & Controlled Substance NAFDAC and other dignitaries.
Evidently, Government of nations of the world especially Africa, must see that that they do not lose their firm grip, tackling illicit drug use, abuse and trafficking.
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