As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, concerned voices across the nation are calling on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to combat the alarming rise in drug abuse.
Stakeholders are demanding the implementation of stronger, prevention-focused policies, tighter regulatory controls, and broader national commitment to addressing the menace.
In a press statement released on Thursday, the National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, emphasized the urgent need for a national shift from treatment-based responses to prevention-driven strategies.
He stated that this approach is in alignment with the theme for this year’s observance: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, as well as the strategic direction of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Igwekamma highlighted the devastating consequences of substance abuse on Nigerian society, pointing out its links to rising cases of mental illness, crime, school dropouts, family disintegration, and untimely deaths. “Drug abuse cripples dreams and sabotages national development,” he warned.
He further stressed that community pharmacists, who often serve as the first point of contact for individuals seeking medication, witness firsthand the widespread misuse of pharmaceutical drugs.
“Every tablet sold without prescription, every bottle of codeine cough syrup diverted, and every illicit drug transaction carried out is more than a crime—it’s a threat to our collective future,” Igwekamma cautioned.
In response to the growing crisis, the ACPN has initiated a national anti-drug abuse campaign among secondary school students, aimed at sensitizing the youth about the dangers of drug abuse and promoting healthier lifestyle choices.
In addition, Igwekamma called on relevant government agencies to enforce stricter regulations on the distribution and sale of controlled substances, urging them to close loopholes that allow drugs to be accessed illegally across communities.
Adding a youth perspective to the conversation, Ogbodo Kelvin, a student of Government Secondary School in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, penned a heartfelt open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his letter, Ogbodo expressed deep concern about the increasing consumption of harmful substances by young Nigerians, particularly in academic environments.
“Drugs like Alabukun, cough expectorants, tramadol, and others are being abused daily, yet little is being done by law enforcement agencies to control this dangerous trend,” he lamented.
Ogbodo also warned of the long-term implications of drug addiction, noting its adverse effects on mental health, such as memory loss, erratic behaviour, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
He also pointed out that drug abuse poses a significant economic threat, discouraging both foreign and local investments and placing an unsustainable burden on national healthcare and security systems.
The growing chorus of voices—from healthcare professionals to students—underscores the urgency for Nigeria to adopt a more aggressive and proactive stance in its fight against drug abuse. The call is clear: invest in prevention now, to safeguard the health and future of generations to come.