The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has asked the Edo State House of Assembly to enact a law that will make drug testing compulsory for job applicants in the state.
Ize-Iyamu said such legislation has become necessary due to the growing rate of drug and substance abuse in Edo State.
She made the appeal when the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, led other lawmakers on a courtesy visit to the hospital.
The CMD said UBTH has established a drug testing centre to respond to the menace of addiction, particularly among young people.
“The reason we decided to come up with the drug testing centre at UBTH is because of the scourge of drug and alcohol addiction. The use of psychotropic substances is on the increase in Edo State, and it is constituting a menace,” she said.
Ize-Iyamu revealed that early tests conducted at the centre showed that youths constitute a significant number of those affected.
“After we set up our drug testing centre, the very first group of people that tested positive were those who were under 20 years of age,” she said.
She stressed that preventing addiction is more effective than treating it after it becomes entrenched.
“It’s more difficult to treat addiction than to prevent it. When addiction is chronic, it becomes a problem to society. It becomes even more of a problem when it affects the young ones,” the CMD said.
She said domesticating the bill on mandatory drug screening for job applicants would help the state screen young people entering the workforce and curb the spread of substance abuse.
Responding, Speaker Idiaye said the visit was to seek areas of partnership with the hospital to support sustainable development in the state.
