The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, has cautioned Nigerian youths against drug abuse, calling it a major threat to national development and human capital.
Balarabe delivered the warning on Monday at the 2026 Undergraduate Forum of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Week, held at Kaduna State University.
She emphasized that no nation can achieve growth and prosperity if its productive population—especially youths—is undermined by substance abuse.
Citing data from the National Drug Use Survey, she noted that about 14.3 million Nigerians are affected by drug abuse, with nearly three million cases in the North-West.
“Kaduna State alone records a prevalence rate of about 10 percent, translating to nearly half a million affected individuals,” she said.
Describing drug abuse as a “monster,” the deputy governor said it destroys mental clarity, weakens physical capacity, and erodes economic and social stability. She added that the menace fuels criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism, as confirmed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
“At the individual level, it steals focus and ambition. At the family level, it causes emotional and financial devastation. At the societal level, it drives insecurity and violence,” she explained.
Balarabe noted that the Kaduna State Government is proactively addressing the challenge through the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA), which focuses on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation with a health-centered approach rather than a punitive one.
The initiative has earned recognition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as a benchmark for drug prevention in Nigeria. The deputy governor also commended Governor Uba Sani for supporting policies prioritizing mental health and substance abuse control.
She urged students to resist peer pressure and embrace productivity, discipline, and self-awareness. “You can either be victims of substances or victors of your story. Choose clarity over intoxication and purpose over distraction,” she said.
In a related presentation, KADSAMHSA Director-General Joseph Ike called for a shift from awareness campaigns to evidence-based prevention strategies. He emphasized addressing risk factors such as academic pressure, social isolation, and mental health challenges among youths.
Ike highlighted the agency’s “Kaduna Model,” which integrates mental health services into community and primary healthcare systems, and urged universities to adopt a three-tiered prevention approach involving universal awareness, targeted interventions, and early treatment.
The forum drew students, academics, and public health stakeholders from across the state.
