NDLEA, UBTH, stakeholders seek wider alcohol, drug screening

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and other stakeholders, has called for enhanced alcohol and substance abuse screening to curb drug-related risks in workplaces, homes, schools and public spaces.

The call was made at the second Special Stakeholders Workshop organised by UBTH, where experts from the security, healthcare, judiciary and education sectors highlighted the need for early detection and intervention in cases of alcohol and substance abuse.

Speaking at the workshop, the Edo State Commander of Narcotics, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, stressed the importance of alcohol and drug screening as a preventive measure, noting that substance abuse poses serious threats to public safety and workplace productivity.

Ofoyeju said screening should not be viewed as a punitive measure but as a means of preventing harm and protecting individuals and society.

“Screening is not punishment but prevention and protection,” he said.

He also cited the drug integrity test introduced by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), CON, describing it as a proactive approach to identifying drug use disorders and facilitating timely intervention.

According to him, scientific and efficient screening mechanisms are essential to detecting substance abuse early and addressing the problem before it escalates. The workshop, which was declared open by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Commissioner for Security and Safety, Festus Ebea, brought together stakeholders from law enforcement, the judiciary, healthcare and educational institutions.

Participants observed that substance abuse was no longer confined to young people but had become a wider societal challenge affecting workplaces, homes, schools and other institutions.

The workshop examined different forms of substance screening, including pre-employment, random and reasonable-suspicion testing, with participants noting that each has a distinct role in maintaining safer and drug-free environments.

Discussions also focused on the wider consequences of alcohol and substance abuse, including the burden on the healthcare system, road and workplace accidents, reduced productivity and increased risks of criminal activities.

The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, called for greater emphasis on early intervention, stressing that drug testing should go beyond merely detecting substances to preventing potential harm.

“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 emphasised the need to create safe and supportive environments for people struggling with substance-related problems, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Monday Agbonika, presented a paper titled, “The Role of the Police in Combating Insecurity via Policies on Screening for Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Our Society.”

Similarly, the Chief Magistrate of the Delta State Judiciary, Tegwolo Okungbowa, spoke on “The Role of the Judiciary in Accepting Alcohol and Drug Screening Test Results in the Prosecution of Offenders Involved in Alcohol and Substance Abuse.”

A Consultant in the Mental Health Department of UBTH, Prof. Uwadiae Enobakhare, also examined the medical consequences of alcohol abuse in a presentation titled, “Medical Implications of Alcohol Abuse Complications.”

The interactive session ended with participants expressing support for the newly introduced screening centre at UBTH, described as the first of its kind in the geopolitical zone.

Stakeholders said the facility would provide an important platform for early detection, professional intervention and greater public awareness of the dangers associated with alcohol and substance abuse.