By Grandball Choice/Amayindi Yakubu/Judith Obianua
Ever wondered why 26 June every year was set aside as the day to remind the world about the significance of awareness and advocacy against drug addiction and illicit trafficking? If you’re still wondering, here is the reason. The United Nations General Assembly adopted what is called, resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987, to demonstrate its resolve to increase action and collaboration in the pursuit of an international society free from drug addiction. Hence the need to designate June 26 as the International Day against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking.
In Nigeria, many, mostly the youth struggle with drug abuse waves in cities, streets, ghettos and rural areas. Students in schools, traders, and even the older persons are affected.
The situation is made worse as illicit substances are allowed to flow along transnational routes into the country, and they find their way into our communities, and increasing the rate of addiction, violence, crime and trafficking menace.
This resultant social vices demand more than law enforcement alone; it calls for awareness against the dangers of drug addiction and trafficking, which are the root cause. Prevention campaigns, not only treatment strategies are, therefore, needed.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency report that, in 2024 alone, its operatives across every state of Nigeria seized more than 2.6 million kilogrammes of illicit substances and effected over eighteen thousand arrests is worrisome. This is not just a sad story but also a revelation of the illicit drugs market controlled by cartels in cities, slums, and villages in Nigeria.
The United Nations theme for this year’s campaign, “Break the cycle. With the hashtag #StopOrganizedCrime”, speaks directly to our Nigerian landscape.
It is on the strength of this year’s theme that The Pointer Newspaper, conducted series of interviews with addicts and Nigerian stakeholders from selected parts of the country, aimed at getting their views and recommendation. See their views and recommendations bellow.
The Chief Superintendent of Narcotics of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Ughelli Area Command, CSN Paul Okoh, said, NDLEA is leading the war against drug abuse in Ughelli and Nigeria in general, through strategic enforcement of the Agency’s mandate programmes.
A drug is abused when it is not medically approved or prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner, or when it is used excessively and such a drug is prohibited by the law.
Describing the situation of drug abuse in his area, Okoh said, “In Ughelli there is a high intake of hard drugs and the effects on our youths have created a worrisome situation that requires urgent collaboration amongst stakeholders in order to reverse the trend and ensure peace, security and sustainable development in communities.
The effects of drug abuse on youths in Ughelli are the consequences of the abuse and in checking the trend, parents, guardians, communitieses and the government have much to do by engaging them in education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment.”
Specifically, he listed the effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking to include: sudden death, destitution, prostitution, loss of work, family disintegration, kidney and liver damage and crimes such as armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, murder and terrorism. But if there is constant orientation, community engagement and rehabilitation centres, their involvement and consequences can be reduced.
He appealed to youths to visit NDLEA offices nationwide for the drug integrity test initiated by the Agency’s chairman, Buba Marwa in order to avoid domestic violence.
Speaking to another respondent, Mr Orugba, a repentant hard drug addict, about the role hard drugs played in his life, he revealed: “I regretted the time I wasted in taking hard drugs just to satisfy my emotional urge and please my age group. I have returned to my mechanic workshop, where I am my own boss and appealing to youths to disengage from taking hard drugs, as it will lead them to nowhere; rather, they will be involved in robbery, kidnapping and rape.
“ I don’t want to go back to how I was initiated into the system because it was an experience I accepted out of my own volition. I suddenly closed down my workshop and began to move from one village to the other as a result of the hard drugs I got myself into.”
Also, another respondent, Alexander Johnson, a full-time journalist and activist, serving as the Production Manager of Fides Media, publishers of the Fides newspaper in Anambra State, shared his opinion on the menace of drug abuse: “The current level of drug abuse in Nigeria has gotten to the point where Nigerian youths continue to indulge in the use of illicit drugs on almost a daily basis. I may not have the right statistics right now, but I am certain that we have over 50% of the Nigerian youths involved in drug abuse. In Nigeria today, when people feel weak, or maybe have a headache or feel feverish, they say, I’m having malaria or typhoid, and go to the pharmacy without any medical or doctor prescription. The pharmacists, in turn, goes ahead to administer drugs.
The way forward would be sensitisation. The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency is doing well in this regard. But I think, there is the need to pay more emphasis on sensitisation campaigns against illicit drug consumption and trafficking.
In the world today, they say ignorance is not an excuse, but then remember that the scriptures also outline that people perish because they lack knowledge. I can assure you for a fact that, if people knew the harm they do to their bodies when they abuse drugs, they wouldn’t attempt to take it.
Why are youths increasingly engaging in drug abuse?
Because most of them are jobless. There is a part of the scriptures that says, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. So, if I am gainfully employed, I would not think of taking hard drugs or even abuse drugs. When you talk with some of the people who take hard drugs, they tell you that they take them to forget about their sorrows. This is a case of ignorance that is not excusable in law.
For me, the government has a role to play in this regard, by sponsoring serious drug education campaign. The NDLEA is trying in this regard, though there is still much to be done. enough,
As at today, they still ship in cannabis and several degrees of hard drugs into the country.
Up till today, people still farm cannabis in Nigeria, which is one of the most dangerous hard drugs we have.
I, however, want to thank the United Nations for it’s war against drug trafficking and consumption, and making today a special day to further sensitize the world on the need to shun such act.
The trumpet for this advocacy should go higher and louder. The 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse helps to sensitize more people on the danger of the abuse and, by extension, reduce the rate at which we have this abuse in our society.
In Asaba, Precious Adaji Ochofie, a freelance graphic and product designer has this to say: For years now, there have been campaigns against drug abuse, yet the vice has continued.
While campaigns are good, groups such as NGOs that lead such campaigns would need help to further take actions like rehabilitation of drug-dependent folks, mind transformation and leadership training for younger people involved in the illicit use of drugs (catch them young). This, of course, can largely be achieved with the help of everyone in society, both financially and otherwise.
Why are youths increasingly engaging in drug abuse?
Psychologically, it’s a means of escape for many. Many try to escape trauma (from heartbreak, childhood, etc.); many are depressed and do not know it, and somehow, they get to find a temporary peace with the substance they abuse as it stimulates their brains to release hormones that make them ecstatic.
The need to escape their reality instead of facing it has led many of them to drug and substance abuse. Also, people are a reflection of who influences them. The kind of people who largely influence the youth population today in some ways, lead to the use of drugs. They sing and rap about it, talk about their dependence on drugs in interviews, and their hit pieces (songs, art, movies, etc.) are often said to have been inspired by drugs.
Furthermore, the economy is connected to a number of ills in society. With a failing economy, leading to young folks having to fend for themselves at a very early age, they become exposed to so many vices. There’s no slum in the country without a deep-seated drug problem among the youth. A poor child growing up in such an environment would most likely end up like what he sees prevailing in his surroundings.
In order to address this challenge, the government will need to create an enabling environment that discourages the illicit use of drugs via a stable economy and particularly, invest in education with a focus on solving out-of-school children. Secondly, a brutal crackdown on drug trafficking is very much needed.
While we have a day specially designated for campaign against drug abuse, our decision against it should not just be for the day, but all days, and it is our collective duty as Nigerians to fight against illicit drugs and drug abuse.
However, in her view, Pharmacist Queeneth Mokunye said, “Even common Paracetamol can be abused when it is not used properly. Some people tell you they take eight tablets of paracetamol in four hours, which is an abuse of drugs and can be harmful.
Vitamin C, when it is not properly taken, has its own side effects.”
Speaking further, Mokunye said, “There was a time I did research on drug addiction. What I discovered was that, those who do drugs just want to feel on top of the world. When they take it, they get high, but there are people who take it and still feel normal.”
From Port Harcourt Court, Tabitha Akor Faith, a youth leader’s response is worth hearing. “Well, drug abuse is a crime and also poses health challenge.
Despite the campaigns, you see, there’s still a high level of drug abuse in Port Harcourt. There is, therefore the need to create more awareness to engage people, to inform people about the dangers of drug abuse, its effects, and how people can take precautions, and then stay away from drug abuse.
Youths here, engage in drug abuse as a result of social vices, peer pressure, lack of employment, or a lack of proper education about drugs.
I’ve seen quite a lot of people get involved in drug abuse because they were lured into it by friends.
I believe that the government is not doing enough to address unemployment and the level of poverty, hence the youth are easily lured into drug abuse and trafficking. The government can actually balance their commitment to ensuring the strengthening of NDLEA. Schools can also incorporate teachings about drug abuse and how it affects mental health into their syllabus.
Although, we cannot neglect the place of health rehabilitation centres in the fight against drug addiction, our approach must go beyond such initiatives; if not, we might not have enough facilities to house the insane persons and addicts on our streets.
Also, the illegal channels and routes through which hard drugs are smuggled into the shores of Nigeria deserve to be blocked or properly manned.
The relationship between drug trafficking and crimes in Nigeria is almost the same as the consequences of early sex and teenage pregnancy.
As we bask in the spirit of advocacy of the International Day against Drug and Illicit Trafficking, the task ahead is to sustain the momentum rather than allow our awareness to become mere political manifestos. Families, schools, faith groups and other socialisation agents across Nigeria must carry forward an appeal and positive coercion message into every town, village, church and mosque alike.
To our fathers, mothers and uncles at the National Assembly and various seats of government, there is an urgent need to prioritise legislation for the prevention of drug addiction and abuse.
A united, compassionate and proactive response can break the cycle of addiction and free millions of Nigerians from the shackles of drug abuse and illicit drugs.
