The Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN) has started a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about drug abuse in Nigeria.
The campaign is strongly supported by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
The campaign was introduced during the BOF-PSN’s 7th Public Lecture in Lagos. It is part of a bigger effort to deal with drug abuse and mental health problems that are affecting communities across the country.
At the event, which had the theme “Mental Health as a Basic Human Right,” Marwa spoke about the growing problem of drug use among young people. He said a complete and united approach is needed to fight drug abuse.
Marwa added that every drug user affects a whole family, and that pharmacists must play a key role in helping to stop drug abuse because they are at the heart of public health and drug control.
He also praised recent improvements in the pharmacy sector, especially the passing of the Pharmacists Council Bill Act 2023.
Marwa called for more teamwork between the NDLEA and BOF-PSN to stop the illegal sale of controlled drugs.
BOF-PSN’s National Chairman, Pharm. Uchenna Apakama, said the campaign would reach every part of Nigeria to spread the message about preventing drug abuse.
He promised to focus on educating the public about the dangers of drug misuse. He also said the group would work with people and groups across the country to teach citizens about the health, social, and economic effects of drug abuse.
Speaker Obasa said the rise in drug use is closely linked to the growing mental health crisis. He warned that if mental health issues are not treated, they can harm families and communities.
He also said mental health is now a serious issue and that everyone, no matter their background, deserves access to proper mental healthcare.
Obasa mentioned the Lagos State Mental Health Law of 2018, which includes mental health services in regular healthcare. He asked pharmacists to help the state fight fake drugs and make real medicines easier to get.
The lecture took place at the Festival Hotel in Amuwo-Odofin and brought together important people from Nigeria’s health and pharmacy fields. These included PSN President Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye (represented by Dr. Rametu Momodu), and former PSN President Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, a psychiatrist, urged the public to change how they think about mental health.
She said solving mental health and drug problems should be a shared responsibility because they affect everyone and are human rights issues.
She added that everyone has mental health, and how well we do in life depends on our challenges, how strong we are, and the support we have.
The BOF-PSN campaign will be rolled out in stages across the country, focusing on awareness, school programs, and community outreach.
