The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Idia Ize-Iyamu, has raised concerns over the growing incidence of drug and substance abuse among students in secondary and tertiary institutions, calling for urgent and sustained government intervention.
Ize-Iyamu said tackling the problem should go beyond identifying students who use drugs, stressing the importance of confidential screening, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation to prevent affected young people from developing deeper substance dependence.
She made the call during a courtesy visit to the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osifo, in Benin, where she sought collaboration between UBTH and the state government to address substance abuse among students.
The UBTH CMD highlighted the hospital’s newly unveiled Drug Testing Centre, which she said has the capacity to test for more than 14 substances, describing it as an important platform for early detection and intervention.
She proposed routine but confidential drug screening in schools, alongside counselling and appropriate support for students found to be using substances.
“We look forward to partnering with the Edo State Ministry of Education to safeguard the future of our students,” Ize-Iyamu said.
According to her, UBTH could deploy medical teams to schools to conduct the screening or arrange for students to visit the hospital’s drug testing facility.
She emphasized that the objective should not simply be to identify students who use drugs, but to ensure that those who require assistance receive counselling, medical advice, follow-up care and, where necessary, rehabilitation.
Responding, Commissioner Osifo commended UBTH for identifying the challenge and proposing what he described as a practical intervention.
He expressed the Edo State Government’s willingness to explore collaboration with the teaching hospital, adding that efforts to tackle substance abuse should not necessarily be limited to students and schools.
Members of the UBTH Core Management Team who attended the meeting included the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and Director of Clinical Services, Emmanuel Osaigbovo; Director of Administration, Jim Uwadiae; Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Research and Ethics), Adebola Ehizele; and Director of Nursing Services, Grace Arheghan, among others.
