As the world marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a passionate appeal has emerged from a most unexpected quarter, a student of Government Secondary School, Abuja, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently tackle the growing scourge of drug abuse in Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to the President, Ogbodo Kelvin, a student of the school, lamented the devastating impact of drug abuse on individuals, families, and communities across the country.
His letter, made public during the school’s commemoration of the United Nations-designated day, aligns with this year’s global theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
“As you lead our nation through the myriad challenges we face, there is one pressing issue that demands immediate attention: the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria. From the bustling streets in the East to the remote villages of the West, North, and South, no corner of our country is immune to its grip,” the student wrote.
He blamed the proliferation of narcotics on Nigeria’s porous borders, inadequate and compromised law enforcement, and the widespread availability of commonly abused substances like tramadol, Alabukun, and codeine-based cough syrups. He further identified societal factors such as peer pressure, depression, lack of parental guidance, and social media influence as key drivers of the epidemic.
Kelvin’s letter also outlined practical solutions including a nationwide public education campaign, youth rehabilitation programs, tighter regulation of prescription drugs, and stronger law enforcement action against drug traffickers.
“Drug abuse cripples dreams, sabotages national development, and is a threat to our collective future,” he emphasised, urging the president to take immediate and decisive steps to protect the nation’s youth and secure a drug-free Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has also joined in calling for urgent, coordinated, and sustained national action against drug abuse.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, the association said the theme of this year’s commemoration resonates with its core mission of prevention. Igwekamma stressed the role of community pharmacists as frontline health providers who encounter the silent crisis of substance abuse daily.
“For over a decade, ACPN has spearheaded massive awareness campaigns through its National Anti-Drug Abuse Competition among secondary schools nationwide, with the goal of prevention and disabusing the minds of young Nigerians about the dangers of drug abuse,” he said.
Highlighting the public health and socio-economic implications of substance abuse, the ACPN stated that every tablet sold without prescription and every diverted codeine syrup represents a threat to national stability and development.
The group outlined several key recommendations, including: Strengthening the regulatory environment to prevent prescription drugs from leaking into illicit markets; Empowering community pharmacists to lead in early detection, counseling, and referrals; Expanding public health campaigns across rural and urban communities.
The ACPN urged all stakeholders including government agencies, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, educators, and parents to redouble efforts toward prevention, education, early intervention, and rehabilitation.
