The Ogun state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Tijjani Rabe has decried the non availability of a rehabilitation centre in the command.
According to him, a centre owned and managed by NDLEA will further help to address stigma as well help with prompt rehabilitation of drug users.
Rabe stated this on Monday, during an advocacy visit to the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, at the RCCG camp along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
While decoratiing Pastor Adeboye as War Against Drug Abuse Ambassador, the commander lamented that the command despite receiving people who come for counseling, but do not have a rehabilitation centre to house them.
The commander said, “ After my assumption of duty in Ogun State, I realised that it’s one of the states, one of the few that do not have a rehabilitation centre that is managed by itself.
“ We always receive people brought
to our office for counselling. We counsel them but we don’t have the property.
We don’t have a place where we can keep them, treat them and rehabilitate them.
He explained that rehabilitation requires treating, counseling, teaching the victim some skills and then integrating them into the society.
Rabe maintained that while some cannot afford treatment in public centers, others shy away because of the stigma associated with psychiatric hospital .
“ It’s such a very long program because to save lives from the trap of drug abuse is not an easy task. We have private rehabilitation centres within the state. But of course, those treatment in those rehabilitation centers are very expensive.
“ When we counsel them, we refer some of them to the Neuropsychiatric hospital, but because of the stigma, not many families want to take their children there for treatment.
On his part, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said the church will continue to support initiative of the NDLEA stating that with collaborative efforts, the war against drug abuse will be won.
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