Police Play Novelty Football Match With Drug Users

A Nigerian Police team of female officers on Friday in Abuja engaged in a novelty football match with females suffering from drug addiction to call attention to their plight.

The match was organised by Youth Initiative for Drug Research, Information, Support and Education in Nigeria (YouthRise Nigeria) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to promote the fundamental human rights of drug users in the society, and discourage unlawful detention by law enforcement agencies.

Programme Officer, YouthRise Nigeria, Phillip Njang, who spoke to the THE WHISTLER after the event said the protection of the health and human rights of people who use drugs should be considered by not only government but also the community, adding that human rights laws entitle every person to the right to health and and other healthcare services.

According to him, pejorative terms commonly used in news media dehumanize and stereotype People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) as unpredictable and violent, stressing that such beliefs weaken human rights and create barriers to employment, health care and social services.

“Due to these human rights challenges faced by people who inject drugs, the community needs to be continually enlightened that PWIDs have rights to healthcare services, thereby reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive health problems and the level of drug use.

Consider alternatives to criminalization and incarceration of people who inject drugs and focus criminal justice efforts on those involved in supply, ” he said.