As the world marks this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme: ” Addressing Drug Challenges In Health and Humanitarian Crises” the need to bring to the fore issues of drug abuse and illicit trafficking has been highlighted
Globally, it is reported that about 200 million people use illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sadetives- hypnotics
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report 2018, it said drug use was more prevalent among young people within the age bracket of 29 to 39. In another 2018 report by the National Drug Use Survey, there were approximately 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria of whom about 3 million of them are involved in substance abuse.
In the same vein, the 2021 World Drug Report, by UNODC revealed that about 275 million people use drugs globally in the previous year, and more than 36 million people suffer from drug use disorder. It noted that 14.4 per cent of the drug usage is visibly high when compared to the global average of 11 million people.
UNODC further said that the commonly abused drugs in Nigeria are the psychoactive substances and these includes- cannabis, non medical use of prescription opioids ( mainly tramadol and to a lesser extent codeine or morphine) and cough syrups ( containing codeine or dextromethorphan.
The World Drug Report also revealed that in Nigeria, the prevalence of drug usage in the past year is estimated to be 14.4% or 14.3 million people between the ages of 15-64. When compared to the global yearly prevalence of any drug use among adults of 15.6% in 2016,. Nigeria’s level of drug usage is considerably high.
The report on the level of drug usage among youths is not a palatable story to say the least. Although efforts are being made to reduce to the bearest minimum the devastating effect of drug addiction on our young ones. These measures are like a drop of water in the ocean considering magnitude of the drug menace we are currently faced with.
Substance abuse in Nigeria is fast assuming an alarming dimension comparable to the Covid-19 pandemic and has eaten dip into fabric of our youths. The effect of substance addiction goes beyond the individuals with a ripple effect on the family and society at large.
There are so many factors that are contributory to youths involvement in drugs abuse some of which are peer pressures, family background, socio-economic factors ( poverty, unemployment), poor parenting, moral decadence and idleness.
Psychoactive substances which are the most addicted have caused unquantifiable damage to individual and society. The effect of such addiction are physical, mental and social, posing serious public health, security and socio-economic concerns to the country.
Findings have it that there is positive correlation between drug abuse and the upsurge of crime and violence. It is of a certainty that where there is a high level of drug abuse there exist a high level of crime.
To halt the rising cases of substance abuse among the youths, the government, parents, Drug Law Enforcement agents and religious bodies must all be alive to their responsibilities. Parents must give quality time and attention to their children’s moral development by watching closely behavioral change in their children and wards as it is one of the symtoms of drug usage.
Niger Delta Herald tasks the Federal Government, the States and local councils through the National Orientation agencies to carry out sensitization campaigns to our schools to educate the young ones on the dangers of drug abuse to catch them young. Rehabilitation centres should be established to rehabilitate those that are addicted. We call on churches and mosques to continue to preach the right messages to their congregation to instill the right religious values in our youths.
Also, we call on the National Drug Law Enforcement agencies (NDLEA) to intensity its ongoing offensive against drug peddlers and barons. Also our borders, airports and seaports must be effectively policed to cut drugs supply chain given that most of these illegal drugs are manufactured outside but find there way in the country.
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