The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have called for the expansion of alcohol and substance abuse screening across workplaces, schools and public institutions, warning that drug abuse has become a wider societal threat.
The call was made during the second Special Stakeholders Workshop organised by UBTH, where experts from the security, health, judiciary and education sectors gathered to discuss ways of tackling the growing challenge of substance abuse.
Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who spoke at the event, said screening should not be viewed as a punishment but as a preventive measure aimed at protecting lives and improving safety.
He stressed that substance abuse was no longer limited to young people, noting that its impact was now being felt in offices, homes, academic institutions and communities.
“Screening is not punishment but prevention and protection. Measures like this are necessary because addressing substance abuse is vital for improving safety in both workplace and public settings,” Ofoyeju said.
The workshop was declared open by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by the Commissioner for Security and Safety, Festus Ebea.
Ofoyeju also highlighted the drug integrity test introduced by NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), describing it as a scientific approach designed to identify drug-related problems early and provide timely intervention.
Participants at the workshop examined different screening methods, including pre-employment tests, random checks and tests carried out based on reasonable suspicion, as part of efforts to maintain safer and drug-free environments.
The stakeholders warned that substance abuse contributes to public health challenges, road accidents, workplace hazards and criminal activities.
UBTH Chief Medical Director, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu, said early detection was key to preventing drug-related tragedies.
“Drug testing is not merely about identifying a substance; it’s about identifying a risk before it leads to tragedy,” she said.
She added that institutions must create supportive environments where people struggling with substance-related problems can receive help rather than face only punishment.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Monday Agbonika, spoke on the role of the police in reducing insecurity through alcohol and substance abuse screening policies.
Chief Magistrate Tegwolo Okungbowa of the Delta State Judiciary also addressed the importance of accepting alcohol and drug screening results in prosecuting offenders linked to substance abuse cases.
A UBTH mental health consultant, Professor Uwadiae Enobakhare, highlighted the medical consequences of alcohol abuse and its complications.
The workshop ended with participants applauding the newly established UBTH screening centre, which is the first of its kind in the geopolitical zone, as a major step towards strengthening the fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
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