Government Warns Against Narcotic Sales
The Ministry of Health through the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone has issued strong warning to pharmacies throughout the country that are engaged in the sales of sedative and psychopathic drugs that have now been converted into narcotic use by people the Registrar of the Board Wiltshire Johnson referred to as becoming a nuisance and threat to national peace and security. (Photo: WCN Johnson, Registrar)
This admonition was issued by the by the Registrar at a grand gathering of pharmacists from all over the country at the conference room of the National School of Nursing where Johnson impressed upon fellow pharmacists that “the government has been gravely concerned about the misuse of certain drugs; abused mainly by youths and commercial sex workers that has led to untold reports of violence and reckless behaviours†stating further that “it is against the law for such medicines to be sold without prescription from a doctor and that the government would expected that we as custodians of those drugs take caution and act within the ambit of the law and ethics of the profession “ he said sternly.
WCN Johnson went on to say as from henceforth, “any pharmaceutical outlet caught in the habit of selling such sedative and psychopathic drugs; needles and syringes sold without prescription will meet with the full force of the law†as according to him, “the Board is empowered to prosecute such people and with grave consequences.
This warning comes in the wake of flagrant abuse of certain drugs (e.g., diazepam) used for therapeutic purposes; causing many mental and psychological problems amongst youths who in many occasions have turned violent and resorted to reckless behaviours that has alerted government on the precarious situation that is causing untold mayhem amongst school going youths, street boys and commercial sex workers in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the Registrar of the Board noted that the reason why the youth are now turned to using these drugs is that “it is comparatively cheaper in using these drugs compared to alcohol and other forms of narcotics†which is why he said “pharmacists must ensure that such drugs only fall in the hands of the right peopleâ€. He also mentioned that the abuse of such drugs has led to the development of gross mental conditions in youths who are now becoming fast addicted to them and losing their sanity.
The Sierra Leone Police in recent times have invariably expressed similar concerns; noting with all seriousness the effects such abuse of drugs has had on the youths of the country. Reports about youth groups engaging in unusual brutal brawls on social occasion that have resulted in bodily wounds and deaths have been made by the police who now join forces with the Pharmacy Board to ensure that this menace is quickly put under control.
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