The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for early intervention, family support and improved mental health services to tackle drug abuse in Nigeria.
Officials made the call in separate interviews with reporters on Saturday in Lagos to commemorate World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day is observed annually on 10 October. The 2026 theme is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”. The theme highlights the importance of listening to people with lived experiences in order to improve mental health support and services.
Mrs Archie-Abia Ibinabo, Assistant Commander General of Narcotics and Director of Seaports Operations, NDLEA, described public sensitisation on mental health and drug abuse as timely. She said the growing challenges affecting individuals and communities made increased awareness and preventive measures necessary, particularly among young people, who are most vulnerable to substance abuse.
Ibinabo identified peer pressure, family problems, academic failure, health conditions and the misuse of painkillers as factors that can contribute to substance abuse.
“Many factors contribute to drug abuse. Social media has also not helped matters because of the sensitisation and glamorisation of drugs on the platform, while easy availability increases the risk of abuse,” she said.
She said the NDLEA had adopted a two-pronged approach: demand reduction through education and sensitisation, and supply reduction through enforcement against illicit drug traffickers, manufacturers and sellers.
Ibinabo urged families to avoid living in denial and stigmatisation, stressing that young people struggling with substance abuse needed support, understanding, professional assistance and rehabilitation rather than condemnation.
“At the NDLEA, we have trained counsellors and experts who assist. Parents can bring their children to us for support and rehabilitation because we believe they can recover from addiction,” she said.
She noted that the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme also educated children from an early age, including primary school pupils, using scientific and evidence-based information on substance abuse prevention.
Ibinabo called for stronger partnerships with state governments to expand rehabilitation services, noting that population growth and a shortage of professionals made it difficult to meet increasing treatment needs.
Similarly, Dr Martin Agwogie, Founder and Executive Director of the Global Initiative on Substance Abuse (GISA), said social support and open communication were essential to addressing mental health challenges.
“Having someone to talk to can help reduce emotional pressure and restore a sense of balance. However, when people have nobody to talk to, including their parents, siblings or friends, their mental health challenges can become more complicated,” he said.
Agwogie said social media and technology had both positive and negative effects. Digital platforms supported substance abuse prevention and access to treatment information, he explained, but they could also facilitate the marketing of harmful substances.
He added that although family and community support could help address some mental health concerns, inadequate treatment facilities and a shortage of mental health professionals remained major barriers to accessing quality care.
Agwogie urged individuals, families and communities to take collective responsibility for preventing substance abuse and addressing mental health challenges, while seeking specialist intervention and making appropriate referrals whenever necessary.
