The Reformed Drug and Substance Abuse Initiative organised the Women and Family Drug Abuse Programme on December 10th, 2021, to commemorate International Human Rights Day, with this year’s theme being: Equity: Reducing t Inequality, Advancing Human Rights. 

The aim of the programme was to sensitize youths leader on drug use, drug dependence, drug prevention, drug treatment and care at the community level. The programme was held at Indoor Hall, Jolly Nyame Stadium. Taraba State- Nigeria.

The activities started around 9 AM prior to the registration of participants. The programme started with an opening ceremony which was provided by Mr Bello Bolyam, the National Coordinator of the Reformed Drug and Substance Abuse Initiative (REDSAI). The aim of the opening keynote speech was to give an insight into the purpose of the programme and why youth leaders should be at the centre of the fight against drug abuse and gender-based violence among youth and families. Mr Bello Bolyam also acknowledged that people using drugs face stigmatisation. Instead, the community should continue to see the person using drugs as a human, a citizen, as someone’s sibling, parent, spouse, and relative, a professional, etc. and that this person deserves health care services and other basic rights. Furthermore, counsellor U J Yohanan educated the target group about the risks of hazardous drug use and elaborated on that the transformation to recovery is a process and that the destination can be reached.

Over 80 youth leaders participate. Mr Bello Bolyam showed the general public the need for awareness of the harms caused by criminal activities of those using drugs. He also called for drug policies based on the public health approach and human rights to support global awareness against drug abuse.

The final session involved a panellist session. This session was meant to raise discussions around drug abuse and the roles of youth leaders in fighting against drug abuse in society and the community at large. 

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