By Esi-ife Arogundade
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that approximately 14.3 million Nigerians are grappling with drug abuse issues.
Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General (DG), disclosed this Wednesday while inaugurating the agency’s youth initiative, “Catch Them Young,” at Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Rivers State.
She highlighted research findings indicating that one in four high-risk drug users have been arrested for drug-related offences.
According to her, the statistics revealed that 73 percent of these arrests were for drug possession, 12 per cent for theft, five per cent or sex work, four per cent for burglary, and two per cent for shoplifting.
“Note that this data only reflects reported arrests; if we take into account the many unreported crimes, we realize the magnitude of the problem we face,” Adeyeye stated.
The NAFDAC DG spotlighted the detrimental impacts of drug abuse on families, communities, and Nigeria’s socio-economic development, noting that, the program, aimed at reducing drug abuse prevalence among secondary school students, was launched in response to the crisis.
“Drug addiction can stem from both legally prescribed medications and illicit substances,” Adeyeye explained. “This program isn’t aimed at instilling fear but rather fostering honest discussions that empower students to make informed choices regarding illicit drug use, including alcohol consumption.”
Earlier in the event, Mr. Onogwu Emmanuel, NAFDAC’s State Coordinator for Rivers, elaborated on the significance of targeting secondary schools for the sensitization and capacity-building program.
He underscored that secondary students represent a particularly vulnerable demographic, emphasizing that as future leaders, they must be actively engaged in combating drug abuse.
He added that the “Catch Them Young” initiative is poised to provide valuable knowledge and tools to youth, aiming to curtail the rising tide of drug abuse in Nigeria.
