As Nigeria grapples with rising drug abuse, a non-governmental organisation, Stamp Out Drug Abuse Initiative (SODAi), has called on the government to review existing drug laws and ensure stiff penalties for individuals, specialists, cultivators, and carriers involved in drug-related offences.

Reports from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other sources indicate widespread use of substances such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, tramadol, and other prescription drugs, particularly among young people. The group said the crisis requires urgent and coordinated interventions.

According to the first comprehensive drug use survey by the National Bureau of Statistics and the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA), with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union, about 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use psychoactive substances for non-medical purposes.

The report further shows that one in every four drug users in Nigeria is a woman, while one in every five users of hard drugs suffers from drug use disorders.

Speaking at an event marking the organisation’s eighth anniversary in Lagos, its Executive Director and member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals, Mr Oluwafemi Silas, called for the establishment of more rehabilitation centres and the employment of qualified personnel to support addiction treatment.

He also urged the government to stimulate the economy and create job opportunities, especially for teenagers and youths who are highly vulnerable to drug abuse.

Silas advised that educational opportunities should be expanded to keep young people productive, while relevant agencies such as NDLEA and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should be adequately funded and empowered to perform their duties effectively.

He further called for the expansion, upgrading, and proper equipping of rehabilitation facilities, as well as subsidies for the treatment of substance use disorders.

According to him, many addictive drugs affect the brain’s reward system by flooding it with dopamine, creating intense pleasure and leading users to repeatedly seek the same effect.

“This is why people continue taking drugs to chase the high,” he said.
Silas noted that drug abuse has reached alarming levels in Nigeria, with severe health, social, and economic consequences.

On prevention, he advocated stricter control of drug distribution systems and limited access to substances prone to abuse. He also called for sustained public awareness campaigns through print, electronic, and social media at all levels of government.

He urged parents to take greater responsibility in educating their children about drug abuse, stressing that “charity begins at home.”

“Parents must maintain zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use in and outside the home. They should lead by example and expose their children to programmes and materials that discourage drug abuse, while avoiding those that promote it,” he said.

Silas also advised parents to know their children’s friends and their family backgrounds to help prevent negative influences. He stressed that parenting responsibilities should not be left solely to schools, churches, or mosques, which only play complementary roles.

He further recommended that counselling units in religious institutions be strengthened and involve professionals to support drug education and related programmes for members.