The Nigerian Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP Nigeria) has applauded the Federal Government over planned phase out of high concentration alcohol in sachets and glass bottles, describing the decision as a step in the right direction that should be supported by all stakeholders.
The National President of ISSUP Nigeria, Dr. Martin Agwogie, in a statement, at the weekend, said recent studies have raised concerns about the increasing rate of the use and abuse of alcohol with the attendant economic, social and medical adverse effects upon the individual, family and community.
In his words: “Alcohol has become more readily available, in small sachet with extremely high concentration, cheap and appearing more attractive to the young ones. Alcohol is now easier and cheaper to get in some communities than to get water. More worrisome, is the involvement of children and adolescents in the consumption of this high concentration alcohol.”
He said the development is unacceptable considering the long-term effect when alcohol and other psychoactive substances are introduced to the brain at an early age.
According to him, the human brain is not fully developed until the early 20s, thus, youths must be protected against the use of any psychoactive substance, including alcohol.
Agwogie pledged the association’s commitment and support towards enforcement of this and other evidence-based drug and substance abuse control policies.
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