Support, Don’t Punish Campaign for Drug Abusers

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Wilson Ighodalo is known primarily for his campaign against drug abuse. However stern he is against drug abuse, he nonetheless believes in rendering support to drug victims as against punishing them for the vice.

Ighodalo, who is the president , the Drug Salvation Foundation and Convener NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club, is also the focal person, South West Zone, Community Intervention Network on Drugs (CIND) Nigera. CIND is a network of CSOs working on drugs in Nigeria, who are championing the cause of giving support to drug abusers.

Clarion Call Against Stigimatisation

In one of his interactions with Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), the foundation was equivocal in its clarion call to stop the stigmatisation against ex-drug users. According to Ighodalo, there has to be change in the narrative about drug use, as discrimination and stigmatisation cause more harm than one can Imagine. He said it prevents users from seeking treatment/rehabilitation services and also makes reintegration almost impossible, adding that the society should show them love and care for them to overcome the addiction.

Support, Don’t Punish Ideology

He said: “Support, Don’t Punish is a campaign to raise awareness about the physical and psychological consequences of stigmatising people facing substance use disorders. The campaign aims to emphasise that drug addiction is not a personal choice but a public health issue that needs to be addressed as such. Nevertheless many people with substance-related disorders experience social isolation, face stigma and discrimination. Stigma can have multiple impacts: as discrimination and stigimatisation cause more harm than one can imagine.

“Addiction stigma can affect people in the workplace, it can affect their social relations and mental and physical health. Stigma can result in people delaying their decision to enter treatment, and can hinder access to regular or specific healthcare. Stigma can trigger dangerous behaviours and it can further compound social disadvantages associated with substance abuse and it can trigger further use of drugs and other dangerous substance.

“The Drug Salvation Foundation supports the implementation of policies based on public health and human rights. We call for an end to these repressive policies that only serve to