…Canvases more rehabilitation centres

The Frontline Advocacy Initiative (FAI) has urged Nigerian youths to resist the temptation to experiment with illicit substances.

The group warned that what may begin as curiosity, recreation or peer pressure could develop into dependence and destroy lives.

The Founder of FAI, Shakirudeen Bankole, gave the warning in his message to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.

Bankole expressed concern over the growing consequences of substance abuse among young people, particularly in metropolitan communities.

Bankole, a development communications expert with experience in journalism, said his concerns were based largely on his experiences in communities where he works.

He said that as President of the Alimosho Youth Development Association of Nigeria (AYDAN), his regular interaction with residents across the large local government area of Lagos had exposed him to the devastating effects of illicit drug use.

He said: “As the President of the Alimosho Youth Development Association of Nigeria (AYDAN), for instance, in my routine commune across the large local government area of Lagos State, I encounter, on a daily basis, the brutal consequences of illicit substance use and drug abuse.

“I see many young lives waste away, irretrievably. I see how the drug culture contributes to aggression, crime and increased vulnerability to health problems. We cannot continue like this.”

Bankole identified cannabis, tramadol and other opioids, codeine-based mixtures, cough syrups containing psychoactive substances, cocaine, methamphetamine and substances sold as ecstasy or MDMA among drugs commonly abused by young Nigerians.

He noted that the danger associated with drug abuse went beyond the temporary sensations produced by the substances, explaining that their psychoactive components could interfere with brain systems responsible for reward, motivation, mood, judgment and behaviour.

The FAI founder cautioned youths against the belief that they could experiment with drugs and stop whenever they wished.

“You do not have to plan to become addicted before dependence can begin. The statement that ‘I will only try it once’ is not a guarantee. Some drugs can produce unusually powerful reward signals in the brain, reinforcing the behaviour and making repeated use increasingly difficult to control,” he said.

Bankole also raised concerns over the proliferation of drug peddlers in communities, saying the growing accessibility of illicit substances posed a serious threat to young people.

He, however, expressed concern about the capacity of Nigeria’s treatment system to respond adequately to the challenge.

According to him, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) currently has 31 rehabilitation centres across the country and has announced plans to establish additional facilities.

He added that the shortage of mental health professionals further compounded the problem, noting that the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria had reported that fewer than 200 psychiatrists were available to attend to the mental health needs of more than 200 million Nigerians.

Against this backdrop, Bankole called on the Federal and State governments to urgently expand rehabilitation and addiction treatment facilities, particularly in densely populated cities and communities where young people were more exposed to substance abuse.

FAI also called for special government grants, scholarships and training opportunities for Nigerians seeking careers in clinical psychology, psychiatry and other recognised therapeutic professions.

Besides, he challenged parents, schools, religious institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations and government agencies to treat drug prevention as a sustained community responsibility rather than an occasional campaign.

Bankole also appealed to young Nigerians to resist peer pressure, frustration and curiosity that could expose them to illicit substances.