This was revealed by the state Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Bulus Peter, in Lafia on Thursday.

He called for the strengthening of the regulatory bodies to stem the ugly tide. Other stakeholders in the health delivery system in the state also decried the situation and called for urgent action to prevent the matter from degenerating any further.

The stakeholders, in separate interviews, identified the situation as largely responsible for the increase in the crime rate in the state. “Over 30 people have died in Nasarawa State between January and September this year due to the consumption of illicit and substandard drugs,” Peter stated.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Nasarawa South Zonal Chairman of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, Mr Michael Isife, stressed the need for regular inspection of pharmaceutical outlets in the state to ensure compliance with regulations.