Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Anambra State Government says it has inaugurated a committee that will work to rehabilitate youths in various communities in the state who are addicts of methamphetamine, popularly known as mkpurummiri in the South East.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, disclosed this during a meeting with traditional rulers at the Government House, Awka.
The Commissioner said the state government had inaugurated a committee that would see to the rehabilitation of those who abused crystal Methamphetamine across the state.
‘The committee is made up of health experts, psychologists, officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Police among others and seek the cooperation of Ndi Igwe Anambra to enable the committee to work seamlessly,’ Adinuba stated.
The abuse of methamphetamine in Anambra State became prevalent last year, with communities rising against its consumers.
Most communities adopted a special sanction for abusers of the drug which involved tying them to pillars at community halls, or trees in village squares, and flogging them mercilessly.
Some youths who were meted such treatment were reported to have died after they were flogged to consuming the substance.
The health commissioner however said that rehabilitation by the committee set up would be a professional thing, and would not involve merciless flogging of the abusers of the substance.