The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse and allocate resources to the identification of drug abuse response and treatment, with a view to avert national catastrophe of unimaginable dimension in the country.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Adamu Gamawa, who called for the House intervention.
In his lead debate, Hon. Gamawa observed that “lack of a prescription policy on drug and indiscriminate drug sales by druggists, pharmacists, patent medicine dealers and street vendors, staffed by unqualified personnel which ultimately leads to antibiotic resistance and drug abuse.
“The House also notes that according to the National Bureau of Statistics Nigeria, there is a frightening surge in the issue of drug abuse and misuse in Nigeria with drug use prevalence statistics at 14.4% of productive age in Nigeria (15-65 years of age), which almost three times the global Drug use Prevalence (5.5% ).
“The House is concerned that a large percentage of drug abuse in Nigeria are prescription drugs obtained without proper prescription.
“The House is also worried that most of the drugs sold by illiterate and semi-illiterate drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.
