THE recent call by the Federal Government to tackle drug abuse amongst the nation’s youthful demographic came at the right time. No other time could have been more auspicious. The 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, held in Abuja last Wednesday, themed: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” provided a forum to rally our compatriots in the fight against the menace.
According to the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, an estimated 14.6 million Nigerians had engaged in the non-medical use of substances such as cannabis and tramadol, placing the country among those with the highest drug use rates in West Africa. While the data may be decade old, evidence suggests that the situation has not improved either.
What the country is facing is much more than a health crisis. It is an emergency that affects every facet of its future, from security, education, and economy to the future workforce. The youth, often described as the leaders of tomorrow, are most affected by this menace, and the erosion of their potential is stealing their peace of mind and their sense of purpose.
While the Federal Government cashed in on the occasion to unveil a national strategy rooted in prevention, treatment, and recovery, initiating a strategy without round-the-clock implementation is dead on arrival. We, therefore, recommend a comprehensive response that involves parents, community leaders, schools, the media, religious institutions, security agencies, and healthcare providers
The country should initiate steps to check the availability of drugs such as tramadol, codeine, morphine, amphetamines, and cannabis, which continue to pose a threat to public health. These drugs are easily accessible over the counter in poorly regulated pharmaceutical outlets in many cities and towns. The need for enforcement is therefore imperative. A proper and strict monitoring of pharmacies and unlicensed drug vendors, and the clampdown of culprits, where necessary, should be carried out monthly.
Beyond enforcement, a potent way to tame the scourge is through prevention, which begins with education and awareness. Schools should not just be about reading and writing, but also provide a platform to instruct students on the dangers of drug abuse as well as how to resist peer pressure and manage their mental health. Prevention should also start at the family level, where parents and guardians are expected to engage their children and wards in open and honest conversations about the dangers of drug abuse.
Also, the government should make it a priority to partner with the media to carry out awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse. It behooves the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other stakeholders to scale up public enlightenment on the disastrous consequences posed by illicit drug consumption.
Furthermore, adequate attention should be paid to medical facilities and care centres for substance abusers. Such centres should not only be built across the country, but their services should also be made affordable, accessible, and properly staffed with professionals. Moreover, social reintegration programmes, like continuous counselling, skill acquisition, and employment support, should be put in place to ensure that recovered patients find their footing in society instead of being idle and exposed to stigmatisation.
If left unchecked and unattended to, the scourge of drug abuse ravaging young minds in the country threatens to engulf a generation already grappling with unemployment, economic quagmire, and their associated multidimensional poverty. However, if addressed with precision, Nigeria would not only tame the scourge but also restore hope to families of affected individuals across the country. The Federal Government needs to take action now before it gets too late!
