The chairman and chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) said 14.3 million Nigerians aged between and 64 years use psychoactive substances other than alcohol and tobacco.
He disclosed this yesterday at the annual public lecture organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Abuja.
Marwa also stated that one out of four drug users is a woman while one in five persons who use drugs in Nigeria is suffering from drug use disorders.
He observed that the prevalent of drug abuse among the youth in the country was responsible for rising cases of prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism and banditry, noting that the drug users under influence commit all manner of criminality, including contracting HIV/AIDS as well mental health diseases.
While quoting a report by the National Drug Use Survey conducted by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2018, Marwa disclosed people who inject drugs constitute a sizeable proportion of high-risk drug users in Nigeria as 1 in 5 high risk drug users is injecting drugs.
He explained that drug abuse referred to the consumption of drugs in a manner that deviates from approved medical or social norms and can lead to negative physical, psychological and social consequences, pointing out that drug use in Nigeria cuts across all ages, gender, religion, socio economic status and regions.
“I wish to start this presentation by commending the organisers of this Annual Public Lecture, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for your thoughtfulness and initiative at organising this very important event. This has, in many ways, demonstrated your deep commitment and passion to rid our society of the menace of drug abuse and its associated consequences.
“This event is apt and timely not only because it will create awareness on the dangers inherent in drug abuse but will also sensitise the entire society on their roles in drug abuse prevention, treatment and care.
“The National Drug Use Survey conducted by UNODC (2018) revealed that about 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years use psychoactive substances other than alcohol and tobacco.
“The most common drug of use is Cannabis, followed by pharmaceutical opioids, cocaine, heroin etc. Another disturbing finding of the National Survey is the fact that one out of four drug users is a woman while one in five persons who use drugs in Nigeria are suffering from drug use disorders and drug use was most common among the ages of 25 and 39 years.
“People who inject drugs constitute a sizeable proportion of high risk drug users in Nigeria as 1 in 5 high risk drug users is injecting drugs,” he said.
In his remarks, the executive secretary of NICO, Mr. Ado Yahuza, raised the alarm over drug and substance abuse especially among Nigerian youths, expressing the urgent need for collective action in order to save youths and the nation from avoidable negative consequences.
He commended Marwa and the NDLEA management in the drug war saying the fight “has been a huge success considering the large number of arrests made and convictions secured.”
