Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has revealed that approximately 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse.
She shared this alarming statistic during the launch of NAFDAC’s youth initiative, “Catch Them Young,” which took place at the Government Secondary School in Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
According to Mrs. Adeyeye, research indicates that one in every four high-risk drug users has been arrested for drug-related offenses.
The arrests included 73% for drug possession, 12% for theft, 5% for sex work, 4% for burglary, and 2% for shoplifting.
She emphasized that these statistics only reflect reported arrests, and the true extent of the issue could be even greater, considering many crimes go unreported.
Mrs. Adeyeye also highlighted the negative impacts of drug abuse, not only on individuals but also on families, society, and the nation’s socio-economic progress.
This, she explained, led NAFDAC to launch a comprehensive program aimed at reducing drug abuse among secondary school students.
She clarified that drug addiction could stem from both legal substances, such as prescribed medications, and illegal drugs.
The program, she assured, was not intended to instill fear but to encourage honest discussions, helping young people make informed choices regarding drug use, including alcohol consumption.
Earlier in the event, Onogwu Emmanuel, the Rivers State Coordinator for NAFDAC, explained why the program was being extended to secondary schools.
He pointed out that secondary students are highly vulnerable to drug abuse, and that empowering the youth, as future leaders, is essential in combating this issue.
For the pilot phase, two schools from each of the three senatorial zones in the state were selected.
In closing, the principal of the Government Secondary School, Gladys Iheumamme, praised NAFDAC for initiating the program and urged the agency to continue its efforts to safeguard the future of Nigerian youth.
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