Rising Drug Abuse Among Nigerian Youth Raises Alarm

The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, through its Director General Abubakar Umar Mondai, has expressed alarm over the rising rate of drug abuse among Nigerian youth, warning that the situation is becoming a national emergency. A statement issued following the foundation's March monthly virtual mentorship program highlighted that drug abuse in Nigeria has a prevalence rate of 14.4%, affecting approximately 14.3 million people, with young people constituting a significant proportion of those affected.

The foundation noted the increasing availability of synthetic drugs among youth, which poses serious threats to public health and economic stability. Consequences include rising addiction cases, mental health disorders, increased pressure on healthcare systems, and weakened family structures.

The foundation emphasized the need for urgent coordinated actions involving stakeholders, including integrating drug education into school curricula and expanding treatment services. It also called for increased investment in youth empowerment programs to address unemployment and reduce vulnerability to drug abuse, urging the government to tackle underlying socio-economic drivers.