Niran Odufayo
As the world commemorates the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and concerned Nigerian students have issued a united and urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action against the growing scourge of drug abuse, which continues to ravage communities and imperil the country’s youth.
In a national press address delivered in Abuja, the National Chairman of the ACPN, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, reaffirmed the association’s long-standing commitment to drug abuse prevention. Speaking in line with the United Nations theme for this year’s observance, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” Pharm. Igwekamma called on government stakeholders to shift from reactive measures to proactive prevention strategies, particularly those targeted at young Nigerians.
He emphasized the vital role of community pharmacists as first-line healthcare providers who are well-positioned to detect early signs of drug misuse, provide education, and support rehabilitation efforts. Highlighting ACPN’s work, he cited the association’s National Anti-Drug Abuse Competition, which has, for over a decade, engaged secondary school students nationwide in awareness campaigns aimed at dissuading them from drug use and aligning their understanding with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) strategic plan for substance abuse prevention.
Pharm. Igwekamma warned that every unregulated tablet, every diverted cough syrup, and every hard drug sold in the streets does not just constitute a violation of the law, but represents a threat to Nigeria’s future. He described drug abuse as a driver of school dropouts, mental illness, family breakdown, rising crime, and the stalling of national development. According to him, if left unchecked, the crisis could erode the foundation of the country’s social fabric and economic progress.
“We see the faces behind the statistics,” Igwekamma said. “These are not just drug users—they are our children, our students, our future workforce. Drug abuse is sabotaging dreams before they take flight.”
On the same day, a powerful voice emerged from the student community, echoing the pharmacists’ concerns. In a heartfelt open letter addressed to President Tinubu, a secondary school student, Ogbodo Kelvin, called attention to the widespread prevalence of drug abuse and its destructive impact on youth across Nigeria. The letter, dated May 27, 2024, detailed the deep concerns of young Nigerians and appealed to the President to confront the crisis with urgency.
Kelvin, writing from Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, painted a sobering picture of the situation. He wrote that drug abuse had transcended socioeconomic and geographic boundaries, afflicting individuals in cities and rural areas alike. He pointed to the unchecked availability of drugs such as tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups, and locally abused substances like Alabukun, and lamented the inability of law enforcement agencies to stem the tide due to corruption and lack of capacity.
He identified contributing factors such as peer pressure, low self-esteem, depression, lack of parental guidance, and the glamorization of drug use in media. Kelvin warned that the consequences were not merely physical or emotional, but also socio-economic, as drug abuse weakens mental health, impairs decision-making, and isolates individuals from society. He added that the social costs—broken families, increased crime, and loss of productivity—are staggering and should concern every policymaker.
Kelvin proposed several policy solutions in his appeal to the President. He advocated for a nationwide awareness campaign that would extend to rural areas, where information on the dangers of drug abuse is often limited. He called for more rehabilitation centres and programmes tailored to young people battling addiction, urging the government to take a compassionate approach that prioritizes healing and reintegration. He also stressed the importance of strict enforcement against drug trafficking and the need to regulate access to prescription medications, including through pharmacist-led monitoring systems.
Pharm. Igwekamma, responding to the sentiments of young advocates like Kelvin, said the ACPN stands ready to support government efforts through professional expertise, data-driven interventions, and grassroots mobilization.
“The voices of our youth must be heard and heeded. Kelvin’s letter is not just a cry for help—it is a call to leadership,” he said. “We urge the President and all stakeholders to recognize the urgency of this moment and act decisively.”
The ACPN reiterated that the time to act is now, urging government ministries, security agencies, education authorities, traditional leaders, and parents to collaborate in addressing the crisis from all fronts. The association also called for improved welfare for pharmacists and other health professionals involved in combating drug abuse, noting that sustainable reforms must be matched with institutional support and long-term investment in public health education.
As Nigeria reflects on the challenges and opportunities presented by this year’s World Drug Abuse Day, the convergence of voices from both the professional health sector and the student population sends a resounding message: the battle against drug abuse is not a future problem—it is a present emergency. And tackling it requires every arm of society, from the pharmacist’s counter to the classroom, from State House to the street.