The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has stated that the proposed drug test policy for admission seekers and students is designed to support, not expel, those struggling with substance abuse.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, clarified this on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
He emphasised that the agency’s primary objective is to identify and provide help to individuals affected by drug use.
Babafemi said, “We’re treating this as a public health issue, not a crime, let me quickly put that in perspective.
“Whoever tests positive for drug use in that situation – that’s why we work with these institutions – we collaborate with them so that the people who test positive are not punished or expelled from the school.
“They are taken for treatment to wean off these substances and also to get them reintegrated back to their classes, back to the academic pursuit.”
Babafemi explained that the agency’s approach focuses on deterrence, early intervention, counselling, and treatment.
He added, “When people know that they are likely to be tested when going to school as fresh students or returning students, there’s a level of deterrence. They’ll want to be careful, as they don’t want to be caught in the web.
“We are not pushing for them to be expelled from the school; it’s to enable authorities to detect them early and provide support to them. When they test positive, it is to detect them early and provide support for them.
“If they are detected early, it’s easier to treat at that point than to allow the situation to deteriorate to the point of addiction or dependence, which becomes complicated.”
He further noted that the agency has provided treatment and counselling services for those who test positive.
