EMERGENCY

Emergency can be defined as urgent situations that require the suspension of the constitution in order
to restore law and order. During periods of emergency government institutions such as legislature,
executive and judiciary may not be able to carry out their regular functions and citizens may be
restricted of their human rights until the emergency is lifted.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING EMERGENCY PERIOD?

1 Partial or temporal suspension of the constitution.

2 The principles of rule of law may be ignored.

3. Movement may be restricted to certain areas or hours of the day.

4. Some arrests can be carried out without any warrant.

5. There may be restriction of freedom of expression and the press.

6. Human rights may be violated for the interest of security.

7. It can lead to involvement of military in politics.

WAYS OF REDUCING EMERGENCY

1. Respect for Constitution: A situation where people have respect for the constitution and laws of
the land there will be reduction in emergency cases.

2. Promotion of Human Rights: Respect for human rights in conduct and relationship with other
people will reduce emergency cases in the society.

3. Good Government: A situation where the government is responsive and responsible to the
people there may not be any need for emergency.

4. Socio-Economic Development: The provision of basic infrastructure can reduce the causes of
emergency. Where there is socio-economic development people are able to live in harmony with one
another thereby promoting peace and orderliness.

5. Public Enlightenment: People should be educated on the need to promote the social wellbeing
of the society. They should be taught their civic responsibilities to the government and the society at
large.

6. Respect for Democratic Principles: A state where people have respect for democratic principles
such as rule of law, popular participation and fundamental rights there will reduction of emergency
cases.
TOPIC: DRUG USE AND ABUSE

A drug is a substance or a mixture used for the prevention or cure of ailment.

Drug abuse is defined as the non-medical use of drugs that can alter mood or perception and have the
ability to make the user want to continue to use the drugs in spite of health, social and physical
impairment.

Common drugs that can be abused are: Tobacco, Marijuana, Alcohol, Cocaine, Indian hemp, etc

A drug is said to be abused when it is taken without doctor’s or medical prescription. Below are some of
the ways drugs can be abused:

1. Continuous intake of drugs without prescription.

2. Taking drugs more than the prescribed dosage.

3. Using drugs in ways that are medically and culturally unacceptable.

4. Continuous use of drugs despite their adverse effects on the user.

5. Using drugs to the extent that it leads to change of mood and perception of the user.

6. Taking drugs beyond the recommended periods.

7. Giving of self-medication.

8. Taking of prohibited substances referred to as hard drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, etc

9. Heavy consumption of tobacco such as cigarettes and snuff.

10. Heavy consumption of substances such as coffee and kola nuts mostly used to stay awake.

CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE

1. Easy access to drugs.

2. Keeping bad company.

3. Family background.

4. Poverty.

5. Need to keep awake.

6. Peer pressure.

7. Enhanced performance.
8. Ignorance.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE

1. Constant anxiety, depression and frustration

2. Mood swings

3. Bloodshot eyes

4. Weight loss

5. Forgetfulness

6. Disorderly behaviour

7. Nervousness

8. Slow, disjointed speech

9. Shabby appearance

10. Victims are also prone to thoughts of suicide

11. prone to committing crime and being violence

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

Drugs are substances or mixtures used by people, based on medical prescription, for the prevention or
total cure of ailments. However, anytime a drug is taken without medical prescription or medical use it
becomes abuse. The incidents of drug abuse have tremendous negative effects on the individual, family
and society. The agencies working against or fighting for the reduction of drug abuse in Nigeria are
NDLEA, NAFDAC, etc. Some of the effects of drug abuse are outlined below:

1.Individuals who abuse drugs become problem to themselves and their families.

2.It leads to anxiety and desire to use more of the drugs the victim is addicted to.

3.It causes depression and change of mood.

4.Victims often result into committing crimes such as armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, rape etc.

5.School children who are into drug abuse mostly perform poorly in academics and eventually drop out
of schools.

6.Drug abuse is also a major cause of road accidents.

7.It can lead to psychological problem and loss of memory.

9.It can damage important organs of the body such as kidney, liver, lungs, etc

10.It can lead to terminal disease such as cancer, kidney failure etc.

11.It can lead to break up of marriages.

12.Victims become burden on members of the family.

13.It leads to shortage of manpower and wastage of material resources.

14.Increases government spending on providing rehabilitation services for victims.

15.It can promote the bad image of the family and nation

PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE

1.It will be difficult to completely eradicated drug abuse in Nigeria. However, some measures can help to
reduce the rate and dangers of drug abuse in our society. Below are some of the suggested remedies to
the prevention of abuse of drugs.

2.Parental Intervention: Parents can begin to serve as good role models and mentors for their children
to emulate. Parental education of children about the dangers of drug abuse will go a long to reduce the
rate of drug abuse in the society.

3.Public Enlightenment Campaign and Seminars: There should be regular campaign programmes and
seminars where the public can be educated on the dangers of drug abuse to the individual, family and
society at large.

4. Religious Intervention: Our religious bodies should sensitize their followers of the negative effects of
drug abuse. The campaign should be emphasized in their various gatherings until there is positive
response.

5. Media Campaign: The existing media in the country should promote programmes that would prevent
the youths from going into illegal use of drugs. If the print and electronic media can engage in this kind
of campaign it will help to reduce drug abuse in the society.

6.Sales should be done by professionals: The sales and management of drugs should be done by
qualified professionals such as pharmacists and doctors. People should not be allowed to transact in
drugs as other businesses that may not require expertise.

7.Adequate Punishment for Offenders: There should be strict laws and adequate punishment for those
who deal in drugs illegally.
8.School Intervention: Drug abuse, its negative effects and consequences should be made part of our
school curriculum. Student should be taught how to live responsibly in the society without depending on
drugs.

9.Provision of Employment: Some people are involved in the abuse of drugs as a result of poverty and
joblessness. When such people are engaged in productive venture it will reduce their dependence on
drugs.

10.Effective Drug Law Enforcement Agencies: The existing agencies in charge of drug law enforcement in
Nigeria should be well equipped in order to enablethem carry out their responsibilities effectively.

DRUG LAWS IN NIGERIA

The promulgation of drug laws in Nigeria is one of the ways the Nigerian government has been
responding to the prevention of drug abuse in the country. Examples of such laws are:

1. Indian hemp decree (1966) – According to this decree, any person who engages in the
cultivation or exportation of cannabis will face 21 years imprisonment. Those who only export will risk
10 years imprisonment and 5 years imprisonment if found to possess smoking utensils.

2. Indian hemp decree (amendment) 1984 – This Amendment Act provides for 21 years
imprisonment for sales and trafficking while 4 or more years for smoking and possession.

3. Tobacco smoking decree (1990) – This law prohibits smoking of tobacco in public places. It also
made it compulsory for tobacco advertisers to put warnings on them e.g. smokers are liable to die
young.

ACTIVITIES OF DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

There are two major agencies in Nigeria responsible for drug management and control. These agencies
are NDLEA and NAFDAC.

a) National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA): This agency was established by Decree 48 of
January 1990. The agency has its officials positioned in strategic places such as international airports,
seaports and borders. This is to ensure that there is elimination of importation and exportation of
uncertified drugs and other consumables in the country.

FUNCTIONS OF NDLEA

1. To ensure eradication of illicit cultivation and demand for narcotic plants across the country.

2. To eliminate the root causes of the production and consumption of narcotic plants.

3. To promote effective enforcement of drug laws in the country.

4. To coordinate all preventive measures against illegal dealings in drugs.

FUNCTIONS OF NAFDAC

1. Regulation of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, etc.

2. Inspection of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, etc for quality assurance.

3. Ensures laboratory test of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, etc and certify them for
consumption.

4. Investigation of raw materials and production center where foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals,
etc are produced.

5. Registration of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, medical appliances, etc

ACTIVITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN NIGERIA

1. Detection of fake and expired drugs.

2. Burning of substandard drugs, cosmetics, etc.

3. Detection of drug traffickers.

4. Arrest of drug traffickers.

5. Confiscation of smuggled food and drugs items.

6 Prosecution of drug traffickers.

7. Destruction of plantation of illegal drugs.

8. Public enlightenment campaign.