Observed every June 26th, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was set aside to strengthen efforts towards achieving a drug-free society. Photo: FRCN Archive
As Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for more investment in preventive strategies to address the rising cases of drug abuse in the country.
In a statement, National Chairman of ACPN, Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, described drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a “public health menace” with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and the nation’s development.
“Every tablet sold without a prescription, every bottle of codeine cough syrup diverted, and every hard drug traded illegally is more than a crime; it is a threat to our collective future,” he said.
Igwekamma, who expressed concern over the rising use of addictive substances, particularly among young people, stressed the need for Nigeria to move from reactive responses to proactive investments in drug prevention, in line with this year’s global theme, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
He pointed to the association’s advocacy efforts through its National Anti-Drug Abuse Competition for secondary schools as an example of how early education and youth engagement could change perceptions about substance use.
“For more than a decade, ACPN has shown unwavering commitment through this programme to help shape young minds across the country,” he said.
According to Igwekamma, the association’s prevention-based approach aligns with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) strategic plan, which prioritises early education, public awareness, and grassroots engagement.
He warned that drug abuse has taken a heavy toll on the country’s human capital and economy, citing its links to mental health disorders, increased criminal activity, school dropouts, family disintegration, and premature deaths.
To tackle the crisis, ACPN outlined a three-pronged strategy focused on strengthening regulation, empowering pharmacists, and expanding public health campaigns.
Igwekamma urged regulatory authorities to tighten control over prescription drug distribution and close existing loopholes that allow the diversion of controlled substances into illegal markets.
He also called for community pharmacists to be given a greater role in early detection, counselling, referral, and rehabilitation. “Pharmacists must be integrated into school-based health education programmes and other community-level interventions,” he said.
Declare state of emergency on drug abuse-student tells Tinubu
In a related development, a student of Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Ogbodo Kelvin, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a national emergency on drug abuse in the country.
In an open letter to the President, Kelvin decried the ease with which addictive substances such as tramadol and codeine-based syrups were available, attributing the crisis to porous borders, weak enforcement, and poor societal controls.
He identified peer pressure, depression, lack of parental guidance, and negative media influence as root causes of the growing addiction problem, which threatens the country’s future.
To address the scourge, Kelvin called for a national campaign targeting rural communities, the establishment of rehabilitation centres for addicted youths, and tougher laws to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
“The future of Nigeria’s youth and the nation as a whole depends on swift, decisive action to end the scourge of drug abuse,” the letter read.
Editing by Daniel Adejo
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