At least 21,640 persons nationwide have received anti-drug abuse/trafficking sensitisation counselling by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

This was done through the agency’s offline counselling services nationwide between 2010 and 2014, Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA Chairman said in a statement.

Giade also disclosed that the agency has launched online counselling services to complement existing offline platforms across its formations nationwide with a bid to provide its services to people especially youths at the comfort of their homes.

Noting that drug addiction is not a crime, Giade said, “Every drug addict is a patient and must be treated with love.”

He further clarified that the NDLEA does “not punish addicts rather they are properly counselled and treated.

“It is important for people to have basic knowledge of drugs like types and effects of drugs. How to identify drug addicts, civic responsibility on drug control, predisposing factors to drug abuse/trafficking as well as relevant information on drug abuse and trafficking. People must be knowledgeable and seek professional help for those with drug addiction challenges.”