The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has advocated the conduct of drug integrity test for intending couples to reduce the increasing number of marital crisis in the society.

The Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa made the call at a Conference of the Initiatives Against Addiction and Substance Abuse in Nigeria (IAASAN) in Abuja.

Marwa noted that if the conduct of HIV and genotype has been accepted for intending couples, drug integrity test should also be included.

The NDLEA Chairman expressed worry with the increasing number drug abuse and addiction in the country.

‘’We have reached a monstrous proportion in Nigeria. For people who know the implications, the following facts should be a cause for concern: that the country’s drug use prevalence, as of 2018, was 14.4%, which is almost three times the global average of 5.6%. Nigeria, among other countries, has a very high number of people who abuse cannabis, with approximately 10.6 million cannabis users in 2018. Our country has the unenviable profile of being a leading drug trafficking hub in Africa. The arrest of 18, 940 drug traffickers in the last 18 months is an indication of the magnitude of the problem, and indeed a problem with dire consequences’’ He stated.

Buba Marwa explained that drug integrity tests would be for students, security agencies, drivers, politicians and parents.

”How many Nigerians will be willing to give his daughter out for marriage to a drug addict? How many will want to know if the man that came to ask for his daughters hand in marriage, whether he uses drug or not, I am sure everybody will want to know because you don’t want to take a risk. Our society has accepted to do HIV test and to check the genotype, so why can’t we say when you bring your HIV and genetype, also bring your drug free certificate when you are getting married”. NDLEA Chairman stated.

Mawa said the beyond arrest, NDLEA was scaling up efforts for the prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation of drug-dependent individuals in its facilities.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Initiatives Against Addiction and Substance Abuse in Nigeria IAASAN, Princess Raphael said empirical facts at the disposal of various security organizations in the country, have shown a strong nexus between illicit drugs and the spate of insecurity being unleashed by terrorists, bandits and other non-state destabilizing factors necessitated the conference.

Princess Raphael explained that the conference was organised to strengthen collaboration against drug and substance abuse in the country.

The theme of the conference was ”Drug and Substance Abuse; the Effect of Mental Health and National security”.