The Anambra State Government has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify efforts to combat substance abuse, address related mental health challenges and reduce drug-related crimes across the state.
The collaboration, under the Solution War Against Drug Abuse (SWADA) initiative, was formalised during a meeting involving state government officials, youth stakeholders and the NDLEA State Commander, Mr Charles Onubogu, in Awka.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr Ebuka Onyekwelu, disclosed this, noting that the partnership would strengthen drug prevention, enforcement and public health interventions.
READ ALSO: NHRC Urges Increased Funding for Mental Healthcare in Nigeria
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike; Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor; Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Reformation, Dr Nelson Omenugha; Onyekwelu; and youth and media stakeholder, Mr Chijioke Igwendu, among others.
Obidike described substance abuse as a major public health concern, noting that it contributes to mental health disorders and other medical complications that increase pressure on healthcare facilities.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to coordinated interventions involving health authorities, law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders to address the problem.
The commissioner said progress had been recorded in psychiatric hospitals across the state, expressing optimism that stronger collaboration with the NDLEA would improve support for people experiencing substance-related mental health challenges.
He emphasised the need to complement law enforcement with prevention, early identification, treatment, rehabilitation and public education, particularly to protect young people from addiction.
Onubogu said the NDLEA was prioritising the disruption of illicit drug supply chains, with particular attention to producers and manufacturers of dangerous substances.
He explained that dismantling production and distribution networks would help reduce the availability of illicit drugs, while calling for sustained cooperation to address both drug supply and demand.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Mefor said the partnership would strengthen public awareness campaigns and community education aimed at discouraging substance abuse and encouraging affected individuals to seek appropriate help.
Similarly, Omenugha said the initiative aligned with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s youth reformation agenda.
He proposed extending the anti-drug campaign to correctional facilities across the state to involve inmates in prevention and rehabilitation programmes.
The partnership is expected to deepen cooperation in drug prevention, enforcement, public enlightenment and healthcare delivery, with the aim of reducing substance abuse, tackling drug-related crime and protecting the wellbeing of residents across Anambra State.
 to intensify efforts to combat substance abuse, address related mental health challenges and reduce drug-related crimes across the state.){kind=link}