Sierra Leone News: NDLEA Commemorates UN Day against Drug Abuse
By Joseph S. Margai, Strategic Communications Coordinator
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has on Wednesday June 26, 2019, commemorated the United Nations (UN) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The commemoration ceremony, which took place at the Women’s Fellowship Building, Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) compound in Freetown, was attended by government officials, activists against drug abuse, students, among others.
Themed “Health for Justice. Justice for Health”, the day was set apart to remember all those who have been affected by alcohol and drug abuse and those who are still struggling with the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
Abdul Sheku Kargbo, NDLEA’s Executive Director, said a lot of work has been done but a real crisis exists in many parts of the world including Sierra Leone.
He said the misuse of drugs especially among youths, and in our communities, is on the increase.
“Presently, there are many drugs that are used by our youths out there. They include cocaine, heroin, cannabis, codeine, lagatil, ice, tramadol, diazepam, Valium 10, K2 which is mixed of tramadol, cannabis and tobacco leaves, kush and cannabis butter scotch. We also have drinks of high alcoholic contents like 8pm, punch, double punch, officer, among others,” he said.
He said this year’s theme sends a message that although justice and health appear different, they are very closely related in dealing with the problems of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
“We need to harmonise the work of our criminal justice institutions and our health and social services, in line with international drug control conventions, human rights obligations and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
He said alcohol and drug abuse mainly impact an essential economically productive population cohort — the youth especially teenagers and young adults.
He called on law enforcement and other agencies, civil society, religious and community leaders, teachers and youth to redouble efforts in raising awareness of the damage caused by drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Representative of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Umarr M. Timbo said that June 26, has been set by UN to encourage governments all over the world to renew their commitments in fighting drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
“As responsible member of UN, Sierra Leone has been observing this day over the years. This year’s theme is quite appropriate and embeds within it not only the aims and aspirations of the New Direction for this country, but the concern and passionate desire of President Bio to strengthen and improve the health and justice sectors of our country,” he said.
He said children and young people of today’s world are facing dangerous choices about drugs, noting that most of these drugs, including cannabis, tramadol, and highly concentrated alcoholic drinks, are found everywhere, some expensive, while some are cheap.
He noted that it is no secret that current drug policies focus entirely on punishments and repression that have failed to eradicate supply, demand and harm caused by illicit drugs. He said there are waves of dialogue within West Africa on drug policy reform.
NDLEA’s Chairman of Advisory Council, Assistant Inspector General of Police (retired) Morie Lengor, said over the years, many stakeholders have entered the narcotic drugs conversation for various reasons including health concerns, human rights, rule of law, crime prevention and reduction, and others purely for financial gains.
He said marijuana cultivation for medical use has entered the conversation lately in Sierra Leone, but asked whether it is really about improving health care or about the huge expected financial gains or both.
He called for a national dialogue, bringing all the key stakeholders together, develop a smart strategy that is holistic and nationally owned and robustly implemented for the good of Sierra Leone.
