Following the rising cases of domestic violence the Initiative Against Addiction and Substance Abuse has called on the government to introduce compulsory drug tests for couples intending to get married.
Chief executive officer OF IASAN Amb. Princess Raphael, said she backed the call by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for the conduct of premarital drug tests. She said that she supported the move as it would help would-be couples with drug problems to seek help.
‘’ I totally support the idea 100%, there is a lot of abuse in marriages now, a lot of depression, fights, killings,” she told NAN during an interview.
“A normal human being cannot kill his partner without the influence of drugs, and with all these security issues in Nigeria, no normal human being can engage in violent criminal activities without taking drugs.”
She, therefore, called on governments to make drug tests compulsory before marriage. Raphael said her organisation was focused on offering support to those involved in drugs.
“What we want to achieve mostly is to take care of the ones that are already on drugs, rehabilitate them and let those that have not started to know that it is not something they can get into.
“That is why we have young medics to serve as role models. I tried to catch them young.
”I am taking the message to the grassroots through my wellness team,” she added.
She alleged that patent medicine stores and some pharmacies of exacerbating the illicit drugs problem in the country by selling even controlled drugs without prescription.
“What is responsible for the rate of drugs is connivance with pharmacists. There are some drugs you cannot get without prescriptions, but after a little tip, they will give it to you.”
She listed some of these drugs killing people as Diazepam, Promethazine, Pentazocine.
Raphael urged the control agencies to scrutinise the pharmacies and track what they sell on a day to day basis.