By Precious Orunduyi, Olamide Iwala,
Vivian Deladem, Charity Michael, Ehinmowo Heritage

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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), recently made a call for mandatory drug tests for corps members. He described the initiative as a preventive—not punitive—measure. Weekend Hope speaks with members of the public on the issue
Excerpts:

My stance on this issue is nuanced. On one hand, it could be seen as a measure to curb drug abuse. On the other hand, it may also serve as a screening tool, potentially impacting NYSC corps members’ intake. Ultimately, the necessity of this move hinges on the government’s intentions.

It is not a bad idea. As they always say, we are all government children because we are serving our father’s land, and they are responsible for us.

Drugs are actually bad, so it is not a big deal if the government subjects us to drug-test. If anything should happen to us, the government will be responsible. So, they need to know what they are responsible for.

In my view, it is not out of place, given the high rate of drug abuse and addiction among the youth. We cannot pretend to be unaware of the fact that cases of drug addiction and abuse are prevalent. We also cannot feign ignorance of the tendencies of the youth in relation to hard drugs, especially undergraduates.

We just cannot be too careful, for obvious reasons. The orientation camp is for training. It is a regimented environment where skills, morals and standard of conduct are entrenched. Those admitted to the camp are not all irresponsible after all, hence the need to guard against anything and everything that may compromise the safety, sanity and sensibility of participants, especially the decent minds amongst them.

Mandatory drug tests could feel invasive, and individuals might worry about how their personal information is handled.
Will it really work? Some might question whether drug tests would truly address substance abuse, as people might find ways to cheat the system or continue despite testing.
What about support? For drug tests to be effective, there needs to be adequate support in place, such as counselling and rehabilitation services, to help those struggling with substance abuse. Without this support, the tests might not lead to meaningful solutions.

First perspective to look at, I would have said it is unnecessary, because its more like they want to serve their father’s land and you are testing them for drugs.

      Then I got reminded that you can not avoid NYSC, because it is one of the criteria for many things; people have to serve and if they have to serve, they have to get drug-tested and it means that they will avoid drugs, which will now in turn reduce drug rate in the society. So, for me, it is a good idea. People do not have to like policies when they start, just like my first thought of it was “Why are they doing it?” But you know at the end of the day, it is useful.

Yes, prospective corps members should be tested for drugs, and there are valid reasons for this.

First, the safety and well-being of all participants must be a priority. NYSC camps involve physical drills, teamwork and close living conditions. A drug-influenced person could pose a risk to others around him.

Secondly, the NYSC is built on values like discipline, unity and national service. Drug use goes against these values and can lead to indiscipline, violence or disruption within the camp.

Drug testing also offers a chance for early intervention. Those who test positive can be guided through counseling or rehabilitation instead of being left to struggle in silence.

Finally, the NYSC represents Nigeria’s future and unity. Protecting its image and integrity is important, and that means ensuring that corps members reflect the best of the country.

Yes, corps members should be tested for drugs because the one-year service period is meant for serving the nation. And who is the nation? It is the people who occupy the geographical space called Nigeria.

The first responsibility of any individual is their personal safety. However, drugs and violence are like cousins — closely related and often found together. There are many ways drugs can negatively affect the life of a corps member, and I will use myself as a case study.

During my service year in 2017,  I was heavily involved in drug use. It led me to make irrational decisions. For example, I had saved money for rent in Lokoja, but due to unnecessary expenses on drugs, I found myself stranded and living in a place I did not like.

It is the right direction to go, but my only concern is how this activity will unfold. What will be the yardstick for those who test positive for drugs? Also, it is noteworthy that many corps members will test positive for drugs not because they use them, but because a vast majority of the medications we use contain drug substances, and many are even prescribed drugs due to health challenges.

What will be the yardstick for differentiating between those on hard drugs and those who have merely ingested substances from prescribed medicines?

Also, as you know, one can become a drug addict by taking paracetamol.

Many times, we get high on drugs because we’ve chosen to abuse prescription medications. If there are no preventive measures to caution corps members on why drug abuse is harmful to health, what will be the input of the data?

What will happen to those who test positive? Is there a specific drug test they will be conducting?

If the above questions can be answered, then it is a good initiative.

It is a very good development. It is a right step in the right direction because drug is a very serious menace in our society these days. Most of our youths are engaged in drug abuse and it has a lot of consequences for them personally, for their families and for the nation at large.

      So, it is a very serious issue that needs to be dealt with seriously. I would also suggest that government should extend it beyond the corps members to other students during their admission into tertiary institutions.