•Says It Should Accommodate Consumer Protection Directorate,
Headed By Registered Pharmacist
ByChioma Umeha
 |
| From left: Idris Pada, member, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), National Executive Council (NEC); Olumide Akintayo immediate past president (IPP); Senator (Pharm) Matthew Uroghide, Chairman Senate Public Accounts committee and Ahmed Yakasai, President, PSN at Senate Public Hearing on the need to check the rising menace of drug abuse in Nigeria at the conference hall,Senate Building National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, recently. |
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has advocated an
amendment of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to accommodate
a new Directorate of Consumer Protection to be headed by a Registered
Pharmacist.
This is part of the recommendations of the PSN to the Senate
Joint Committee On Drugs and Narcotics And Health at its one-day public hearing
on “The need to check the rising menace of drug abuse among youths in Nigeria.”
The PSN said the recurring menace of drug misuse and abuse
is now taking unprecedented toll on the health consuming public in Nigeria.
Consequently, it said the proposed Directorate of Consumer
Protection should be empowered to coordinate health advocacy and
monitoring/control of narcotics and other medicines with abuse and misuse
potentials in Nigeria.
National Rehabilitation Centres
The PSN also said it was important that the amended NDLEA
Act provides for the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centres for
victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country while the
rehabilitation centres should be under the supervision of the Directorate of
Health Advocacy and Monitoring/Control.
Governing council and boards of agencies
“We strongly urge the National Assembly to ensure that the
Executive arm constitutes the governing council and boards of the plethora of
agencies involved in drug distribution. This is particularly germane to an
effective execution of the statutory mandate of the three principal agencies of
the Federal Government involved in drug distribution endeavours in Nigeria. For
the records, these are PCN, NAFDAC, NDLEA,” it said.
Drug Abuse, Misuse
On drug abuse and misuse, the PSN noted that prescription
drugs were intended to help us, but can end up hurting us when misused or
abused.
“What truly is the difference between drug abuse vs. misuse
as witnessed in our clime? When a person misuses or abuses a prescription drug,
there is no medical oversight of the risks. For example, a person who misuses
or abuses opioids such as Codeine based drugs can die from respiratory failure.
Prescription sedatives like benzodiazepines such as Diazepam cause withdrawal
seizures. The risks from these drugs are worse when they are combined with
other drugs or alcohol.
“Additionally, when a person misuses a prescription drug,
even on a single occasion, that individual might enjoy the experience so much
that they begin to seek out the drug more often. Thus, drug abuse and drug
dependence are serious risks of misusing prescription drugs,” it explained.
The PSN also explained drug misuse. “To misuse a drug is to
use a drug for purposes it is not intended for. Using Codeine based Cough
Suppressant for a headache, diazepam for nausea, or any other example of people
believing a drug can make them ‘feel better.’ Misuse involves not following
medical instructions, but the person may not necessarily be looking to ‘get
high’ from their use. If a person isn’t able to fall asleep after taking a
single sleeping pill, he or she may take another pill an hour later, thinking,
that might induce sleep.
“Though many drugs claim to cover a wide variety of
symptoms, there is no panacea out there that can cure everything. It is
important to note that all drugs can produce adverse events (side effects), but
the risks associated with prescription drugs are managed by a health care
professional. Thus, the benefits outweigh the risks when the drug is taken as
directed and dispensed by a pharmacist.”
It gave features of drug misuse as taking a dose at the
wrong time, forgetting to take a dose, stopping a medication too soon,
accepting prescription medication from a friend, taking drugs for reasons other
than what they were prescribed for.
It said, “Drug misuse is defined as the use of a substance
for a purpose not consistent with legal or medical guidelines (WHO, 2006). It
has a negative impact on health or functioning and may take the form of drug
dependence, or be part of a wider spectrum of problematic or harmful behaviour.
Drug misuse is a condition that may cause an individual to experience social,
psychological, physical or legal problems related to intoxication and/or
regular excessive consumption, and/or dependence.
“Dependence is defined as a strong desire or sense of
compulsion to take a substance, a difficulty in controlling its use, the
presence of a physiological withdrawal state, tolerance of the use of the drug,
neglect of alternative pleasures and interests and persistent use of the drug,
despite harm to oneself and others (WHO, 2006).”
The PSN explained that people who abuse drugs typically do
not have a prescription for what they are taking.
“Not only do they use it in a way other than it is
prescribed, but they also use it to experience the feelings associated with the
drug. Euphoria, relaxation, the general feeling of ‘getting high’ is always
associated with drug abuse.
“The abuse of drugs in the opiate and benzodiazepine
families frequently leads to unavoidable side effects, including dependency and
addiction. For example, someone taking Codeine based medicines frequently with
no prescription, no symptoms and believing they ‘need’ it in order to feel
better is an example of drug abuse.”
It said features of Drug Abuse are using a drug to ‘get
high’; using without a prescription; exceeding a recommended dose; chronic or
repeated abuse; and developed tolerance.
“The key difference between drug abuse and drug misuse is
the individual’s intentions when taking the drug. The PSN stresses that both
misuse and abuse of prescription drugs can be harmful and even life threatening
to the individual. This is because taking a drug other than the way it is
prescribed can lead to dangerous outcomes that the person may not anticipate,”
it said.
Drugs and Exclusive Legislative List
The PSN also urged the Senate specially to ensure that the
proposed constitutional amendments and reforms championed by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) does not remove drug matters currently listed on the Exclusive
Legislative List as item 21 of part I in the second schedule of the 1999
Constitution.
It said most responsible and responsive countries place drug
matters under federal or central control because of the need to place premium
on safety and well being of consumers of health.
“A country with a history of poor regulatory control in the
pharmaceutical sector which continues to encourage a fake drug syndrome and
challenges of drug abuse/misuse cannot afford multiple regulatory agencies to
control and regulate narcotics, registration of food and drug products as well
as licensure of drug premises.
“Placing drug matters on the Concurrent List would imply
having a minimum of 37 licencing authorities to carry out the present
responsibilities of the NDLEA, NAFDAC and PCN with dire consequences to the
health and security of our nation,” it said.
Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill
The PSN however appreciated the National Assembly for heeding
the clarion call which led to the passage of the amended Pharmacy Council of
Nigeria Bill.
“We strongly urge the National Assembly to ensure a speedy
Presidential assent to enable the new Act of Parliament reshape the course of
monitoring and control procedures in Nigeria.”
It said the envisaged Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill is
well grounded in law to boost the inspectorate activities of Pharmacists
Council of Nigeria (PCN) which has statutory powers to regulate and control all
pharmaceutical premises in both public and private sectors.
“This mandate also gives PCN latitude to modulate the
activities of any stakeholder in the drug distribution channels in Nigeria.
“The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria appeals to the
National Assembly to consider dispensing meaningful budgets for the
inspectorate activities of the PCN. In similar spirit, these enhanced budgets
must be extended to NAFDAC and NDLEA,” it said.
