ABUJA/Nigeria: The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has raised concern over the growing incidence of substance abuse among Nigerian youths, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to education, public health, national security and the country’s future workforce.
The organisation sounded the alarm on Friday during a sensitisation programme organised for over 300 students of Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Abuja, as part of activities commemorating the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Speaking during the interactive session, NACAT’s Operations Manager, Stanley Ugagbe, said the increasing rate of drug abuse among adolescents requires sustained preventive education, stronger community involvement and collective action from families, schools and relevant institutions.
According to him, substance abuse has continued to rob many young Nigerians of their dreams, exposing them to poor academic performance, addiction, mental health disorders, violent behaviour, criminality and, in many cases, irreversible damage to their physical and psychological well-being.
He explained that drug abuse extends beyond illicit narcotics such as cocaine and heroin to include the misuse of prescription medicines, tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups and other controlled substances, many of which are increasingly abused by young people.
Ugagbe identified peer pressure, curiosity and misinformation as major drivers of substance abuse among students, warning that many victims are introduced to drugs by friends under the false impression that such substances enhance confidence, social acceptance or academic performance.
“Drugs do not just destroy bodies; they distort destinies,” he told the students, urging them to remain focused on their education and resist every form of negative influence capable of undermining their future.
He advised the students to cultivate self-discipline, choose friends wisely, avoid environments where drugs are abused and seek guidance from parents, teachers and counsellors whenever they encounter challenges or difficult situations.
Earlier, NACAT’s Programme Manager, Joy Tomo, used practical illustrations and real-life experiences to demonstrate how drug addiction has ruined the education, careers, family relationships and aspirations of many young people.
She stressed that the consequences of substance abuse extend beyond individual users, affecting families, communities and the nation’s socio-economic development.
Tomo challenged the students to become advocates of positive change by educating their peers on the dangers of drug abuse and promoting healthy lifestyles within their schools and communities.
The programme featured an engaging question-and-answer session, with students actively participating and pledging to remain drug-free while serving as ambassadors of the anti-drug campaign among their peers.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating substance abuse, NACAT said it would continue to expand its awareness campaigns in schools and communities across the country, describing preventive education as one of the most effective tools for protecting young people from the dangers of drug addiction.
