GOMBE PLANS TO FIGHT DRUG ABUSE

Gombe -- Worried by the danger posed by drug abuse, Gombe State government
has mapped out strategies to rehabilitate drug abusers in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Isa Umar, while inaugurating a
12-member drug abuse control committee headed by the state Director of
Pharmaceutical Services, Alhaji Waziri Mohammed, said the government was
desperate to fight drug abuse in the state.

According to him, scattered data collated by government had shown that the
rate of drug abuse is on the increase and must be checked.

Said Umar: "The inauguration of the state drug abuse control committee is a
step taken by the state government to tackle the problem with the
seriousness it deserves."

The Commissioner urged members of the committee which include NDLEA,
NAFDAC, Customs officials and the Nigeria Police to live up to expectation
by carrying out enlightenment programmes that would reduce the rate of drug
abuse in the state.

The NDLEA state Commander Mr Illiya Kaltunng, one of the organisers of the
drug abuse programme in the state urged the committee to assist and guide
the local government drug abuse control committee in ensuring that all the
nooks and crannies of the state are covered.

The terms of reference of the committee, according to the Commissioner
include organising drug abuse education programmes for youths in and out of
schools which include primary, secondary, tertiary institutions, NYSC and
other youth organisations like development associations and Rotary Club.