By David Lawani
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and other stakeholders have called for expanded alcohol and substance abuse screening as part of measures to prevent accidents, insecurity and other social consequences associated with drug use.
The call was made during the second Special Stakeholders Workshop organised by UBTH, where experts from the health, security, judiciary and education sectors stressed the need for early detection and intervention in cases of alcohol and substance abuse.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, the Commissioner for Security and Safety, Festus Ebea, joined other participants in emphasising the importance of coordinated action against substance abuse.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said screening should be viewed as a preventive measure rather than a punitive exercise, particularly in workplaces and other public environments.
“Screening is not punishment but prevention and protection,” Ofoyeju said, citing the drug integrity test introduced by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retd.), CON, as an important tool for early identification and intervention.
He said scientific and efficient screening could help identify substance-related problems early enough for appropriate intervention, thereby reducing risks to individuals, workplaces and the wider society.
The workshop examined different categories of alcohol and drug screening, including pre-employment testing, random testing and testing based on reasonable suspicion.
Participants said that various forms of screening could help employers and institutions identify risks early and promote safer, healthier environments.
The stakeholders also examined the wider implications of alcohol and substance abuse, including its impact on public health, workplace safety, road and other accidents, criminal activities and general insecurity.
The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, said early intervention was critical to preventing substance abuse from developing into more serious social and health problems.
“Drug testing is not merely about identifying a substance; it’s about identifying a risk before it leads to tragedy,” she said.
Ize-Iyamu also stressed the need for institutions to combine screening with appropriate support and interventions for people experiencing substance-related challenges, rather than treating testing solely as a punitive measure.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Monday Agbonika, examined the security implications of alcohol and substance abuse in a presentation titled, “The Role of the Police in Combating Insecurity via Policies on Screening for Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Our Society.”
The judiciary’s perspective was presented by Chief Magistrate Tegwolo Okungbowa of the Delta State Judiciary, who addressed “The Role of the Judiciary in Accepting Alcohol and Drug Screening Test Results in the Prosecution of Offenders Involved in Alcohol and Substance Abuse.”
Also speaking, Prof. Uwadiae Enobakhare, a consultant in the Mental Health Department of UBTH, examined the medical consequences of alcohol abuse, focusing on the complications associated with prolonged and excessive consumption.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from law enforcement, healthcare, the judiciary and education, who agreed that substance abuse should no longer be treated as an issue confined to young people.
They noted that the problem affects workplaces, homes, schools and other institutions, requiring a coordinated response involving prevention, screening, treatment and enforcement.
Participants expressed strong support for the newly introduced screening centre at UBTH, describing its establishment as a significant development in the fight against alcohol and substance abuse.
The centre was also described as the first of its kind in the geopolitical zone, with stakeholders expressing optimism that it would strengthen early detection, intervention and public awareness of substance-related risks.
