Nigeria’s drug abuse crisis

 

AS the global community commemorates the 2025 International Day against Drug Abuse, themed “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery for All,” there is a need for the government and stakeholders to collectively work towards effectively tackling the raging tide of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Nigeria.

First observed in 1989, the UN General Assembly’s resolution to commemorate June 26 every year expressed its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

“From individuals struggling with substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organised crime, the impact of drugs is far-reaching and complex,” the UN stated.

The drug crisis has worsened as illegal drug use continues to soar worldwide. In the decade to 2022, the number of people using illicit drugs increased from 240 million to 292 million, according to a 2024 report by the UNODC

It noted that most users worldwide (228 million) consume cannabis, while 60 million people consume opioids; 30 million people use amphetamines; 23 million use cocaine, and 20 million take ecstasy.

Nigeria is significantly affected by the challenges of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, an estimated 14 million Nigerians are involved in the use and addiction to hard drugs.

Once considered a marginal problem, drug abuse has now reached epidemic proportions in urban and rural communities across the country. This reflects in the increasing availability and consumption of addictive substances such as codeine, tramadol, cannabis, nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), methamphetamine (“mkpurummiri”), and other illicit drugs.

Several factors have contributed to the growing menace. High youth unemployment, broken homes, poor mental health services, and a lack of effective law enforcement have all played significant roles.

Social media and elements of Nigerian pop culture increasingly glamourise drug use, subtly shaping the perceptions of impressionable youths.

In major urban centres like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, many young people are first exposed to psychotropic substances—including “Colorado,” shisha, and crystal meth (commonly referred to as “ice”)—through social gatherings such as parties and even at local food vendors.

These, along with peer pressure, have contributed to the prevalent use of illegal drugs among secondary school students, university undergraduates, out-of-school youths, and artisans.

Sadly, the consequences of drug abuse are devastating. It leads to school dropouts, increased violence and criminal activity, risky sexual behaviour, mental illness, and in many cases, untimely death because of overdoses.

The International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal says, “The impact of drug abuse on mental health involves neurobiological alterations,” which result in “structural changes in the brain.”

Unfortunately, the Nigerian healthcare system is not adequately prepared to cope with the rising number of drug addicts in need of rehabilitation.

To stem the tide of drug abuse, the government needs to partner with global agencies and faith-based organisations to implement urgent and sustained actions to reverse the drug crisis, which threatens the health and future of individuals and the stability and development of the country.

 Drug education should be incorporated into school curricula, and awareness campaigns should be intensified across all media platforms.

 Religious organisations, community leaders, parents, and celebrities should reorient the right values and promote a drug-free lifestyle.

 Law enforcement agencies must clamp down on drug trafficking networks and unlicensed drug vendors. There should be more strident penalties levied on drug traffickers who operate within and outside the country.

 The federal and state governments need to enact policies that tackle youth unemployment and improve access to mental healthcare. Rehabilitation centres, especially in rural communities, should be funded and expanded.