National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has buttressed the need for pre-marital drug test as a key factor to a stable home.

Its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa emphasised the need for drug test before marriage, warning that drugs are destroying many marriages, families and communities.

According to him, substance use has been known not only to destroy marriages but equally lead to health problems, morbidity, injuries, violence, and death.

In his words, most often, the physical, psychological and social consequences of drug use are very obvious and disturbing.

He spoke at a conference organised by an NGO, Coal to Diamond Support Network for young adults in Abuja, where his wife, Munirat Marwa, was the chief host.

Marwa, spoke through a Principal Staff Officer in NDLEA, Shehu Dankolo, warned on the dire consequences of drug abuse.

“The mental, physical and spiritual quality of life of individuals has definite impact on a society’s future.

“If would-be couples choose to undergo HIV and genotype tests before marriage without any law compelling them to do so, they should equally consider drug test as critical to their wellbeing and the stability of their homes, ” he said.

In her remarks, Chief Host of the event, Munirat Marwa, emphasised the need for drug test before marriage, warning that drugs were destroying many marriages, families and communities.

She urged youths preparing for weddings to take drug test as part of their preparations, adding that there was a difference between wedding and marriage.

She said, “the wedding, as we all know, is a short time event while marriage is intended for a lifetime.

“As such, the conference has come at the right time when couples are putting more importance and emphasis on the wedding rather than on the marriage itself.

“It is, therefore, important we pay attention to preparing for the marriage and one of such ways is through pre-marital counselling and drug test.

“This prepares the couple very well and has the ability to reduce domestic violence, divorce , as well as increase happiness and longevity in marriages, ” she said.

Other notable speakers at the conference included the wife of a former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Amina Namadi Sambo and the President of the group, Bilkisu Mohammed.

The Keynote Speaker, Sa’id Takuma, also emphasised the need for the proper counselling of intending couples.

He said such counselling would safeguard their marriages and future.