In a renewed effort to combat rising drug abuse, particularly among young people, the Lagos State Ministry of Health on Thursday, June 26, 2025, launched a major sensitisation campaign within the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
EpeInsights reports that the awareness event marked the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and was organised by the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services in collaboration with the Lagos State Interministerial Drug Abuse Control Committee (LSIDACC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
With this year’s global theme, “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery for All,” the campaign focused on spreading awareness, encouraging empathy for victims, and rallying stakeholders across sectors to take collective action.
The event featured a placard walk through the secretariat and the distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials.
Participants, including government officials, youth representatives, civil society actors, and directors from the Ministry of Health, engaged in conversations around drug prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation.
Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Chairperson of LSIDACC, Pharm. (Mrs.) Olawale Poluyi, delivered a powerful message, urging the public to shift the narrative from punishment to empathy.
“Drug addiction is not necessarily a moral failure; it is a medical condition. And it must be treated as such,” she stated.
Highlighting troubling data, she revealed that over 296 million people used drugs globally in 2024, while 14.3 million Nigerians—roughly 14.4% of those aged 15 to 64—had used psychoactive substances, many of them struggling with addiction.
In Lagos alone, a 2024 study conducted by NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Education found that 13.6% of secondary school students had experimented with drugs, with 6.9% currently using them.
“These aren’t just numbers,” Poluyi said. “They reflect shattered lives and weakened communities.”
She identified multiple factors behind drug use, including peer pressure, emotional trauma, curiosity, and boredom. She stressed the need to create safe alternatives for vulnerable individuals such as counselling, skill acquisition programmes, sports, and faith-based support networks.
Poluyi also underscored the vital role of pharmacists and healthcare professionals in the prevention and control of drug abuse, including their responsibility in prescription monitoring, public education, and ensuring safe disposal of medications.
Also present at the event were Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health; Mrs. Wuraola Makinde, Director of LASAMBUS; and Dr. Folashade Oludara, Director of Family Health and Nutrition. Representatives from the Ministry of Information’s Public Enlightenment Department were also in attendance.
Participants commended the Lagos State Government for its proactive stance and multi-sectoral approach to the drug crisis, especially its focus on youth engagement and community-driven prevention strategies.
Pharm. Poluyi closed her address with a strong call to action: “Let us break the chains of stigma, silence, and suffering. Together, we can build a future where treatment is accessible, recovery is celebrated, and no one is left behind.”
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, established by the United Nations in 1987, is observed every June 26 to promote global cooperation for a drug-free world.
