Taking drug abuse conversation beyond the enforcement

“The true measure of a society is not only how it responds to crises, but how effectively it prevents them.”

Nigeria’s conversation on drug abuse is evolving, and rightly so. Increasingly, there is recognition that substance use is not solely a law enforcement concern but also a public health and development issue that requires a broader and more coordinated response.

Evidence has long pointed in this direction. Nigeria’s first National Drug Use Survey estimated that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15–64 had used drugs other than alcohol and tobacco, while over 4.6 million people reported non-medical use of opioids such as tramadol, codeine, and morphine (NBS, 2018). The findings highlighted not only the scale of substance use but also significant gaps in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services.

While drug abuse affects individuals, its impact extends further. It influences educational attainment, workforce productivity, family wellbeing, and broader social development. Addressing it therefore requires looking beyond individual behaviour and examining the social, economic, and health factors that can increase vulnerability to substance use.

This does not diminish the importance of enforcement. Efforts to disrupt the supply of illicit substances remain critical. However, international experience consistently shows that sustainable progress is achieved when supply reduction is complemented by investments in prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, and community support systems.

Encouragingly, Nigeria is already taking steps in this direction. The MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), implemented in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Federal Ministry of Education, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), demonstrates the value of prevention-focused partnerships. By engaging students and promoting awareness, the initiative seeks to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed choices.

Similarly, the National Drug Control Master Plan (2026–2030) provides an important framework for a more integrated response. Its emphasis on public health, education, rehabilitation, research, and community engagement reflects an understanding that addressing substance abuse requires contributions from multiple sectors and stakeholders.

The call now is to build on these foundations. Investing in education aimed at creating awareness and breaking the culture of silence that promotes drug abuse, expanding access to treatment services, strengthening prevention programs, investing in mental health support, and creating opportunities for young people should be viewed not only as health interventions but as investments in Nigeria’s human capital.

Drug abuse should not be seen as the responsibility of a single institution. Government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, community leaders, civil society organizations, families, and the private sector all have important roles to play. Ultimately, addressing drug abuse is about more than reducing substance use. It is about creating the conditions that allow individuals, particularly young people, to thrive.

Offiong Moore is Policy Associate at Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN)