THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and a substance abuse expert have called for early intervention, family support and improved mental health services to address drug abuse in Nigeria.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day.Observed annually on October 10, this year’s commemoration is themed “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”, highlighting the importance of listening to people with lived experiences to improve mental health support and services.
The Assistant Commander General of Narcotics and Director of Seaports Operations at the NDLEA, Archie-Abia Ibinabo, described public sensitisation on mental health and drug abuse as timely, given the growing challenges confronting individuals and communities.
“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 stressed the need for increased awareness and preventive measures, particularly among young people, who she said were vulnerable to substance abuse.
Ibinabo identified peer pressure, family problems, academic failure, health conditions and the misuse of painkillers as factors that could contribute to drug abuse.
She explained that the NDLEA adopted a two-pronged approach to tackling the problem: demand reduction through education and sensitisation, and supply reduction through enforcement against illicit drug traffickers, manufacturers and sellers.
The NDLEA official urged families to avoid denial and stigmatisation, emphasising that young people struggling with substance abuse needed 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 added that the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme focused on educating children from an early age, including primary school pupils, through scientific and evidence-based information on substance abuse prevention.
Ibinabo also called for stronger partnerships with state governments to expand rehabilitation services, noting that population growth and a shortage of professionals had made it increasingly difficult to meet the demand for treatment.
Similarly, the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Initiative on Substance Abuse (GISA), Martin Agwogie, identified social support and open communication as essential to addressing mental health challenges and preventing substance abuse.
He said having trusted people to talk to could help individuals manage emotional distress, while isolation and the absence of supportive relationships could worsen their 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 noted that social media and technology had both positive and negative effects on substance abuse prevention and mental health care.
According to him, digital platforms can support prevention efforts and provide information about treatment, but they can also facilitate the marketing of harmful substances.
He said that although family and community support could help people manage some mental health concerns, inadequate treatment facilities and a shortage of mental health professionals remained major barriers to accessing quality care.
The expert urged individuals, families and communities to take collective responsibility for preventing substance abuse and addressing mental health challenges.
He also stressed the need for people experiencing mental health or substance-related difficulties to seek professional assistance, while families and communities should make appropriate referrals to specialists when necessary.
The ICIR reports that World Mental Health Day was first observed on October 10, 1992, at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health to raise global awareness of mental health issues and mobilise efforts to address them.
The annual observance seeks to break the stigma surrounding mental illness, promote access to mental health care and encourage governments, communities and individuals to prioritise psychological well-being.
It has since become a global platform for advocacy, education and calls for improved mental health services.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.