As the world commemorates the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for urgent and increased investment in prevention strategies to tackle the country’s growing drug abuse crisis.
In a statement to mark the occasion, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, described drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a “public health menace” with profound implications for individuals, families, communities, and Nigeria’s overall development.
“Every tablet sold without prescription, every bottle of codeine cough syrup diverted, and every hard drug traded illegally is more than a crime—it is a threat to Nigeria’s collective future,” Pharm. Igwekamma stated.
Focus on Prevention
He expressed deep concern over the rising incidence of substance abuse, particularly among young people, stressing the need to shift from reactive interventions to proactive prevention.
The global theme for this year’s commemoration, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, he noted, aligns with the ACPN’s decade-long advocacy efforts.
“For more than a decade, ACPN has shown unwavering commitment through our National Anti-Drug Abuse Competition for secondary school students nationwide,” he said, adding that the initiative aims to shape positive perceptions among the youth regarding substance use.
Pharm. Igwekamma highlighted that ACPN’s preventive approach is in line with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Strategic Plan, which prioritises early education, public awareness, and grassroots engagement.
He warned that the impacts of drug abuse—ranging from mental health disorders, increased criminality, school dropouts, and family breakdowns to premature deaths—are cumulatively damaging Nigeria’s human capital and economic progress.
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ACPN’s Three-Pronged Advocacy Plan
The ACPN outlined three core areas for immediate policy and community action:
1. Strengthening the Regulatory Environment:
Igwekamma urged regulatory bodies to tighten control over prescription drug distribution, close loopholes, and curb the diversion of controlled substances into illicit markets.
2. Empowering Community Pharmacists:
He advocated for pharmacists to be given greater responsibility in early detection, counselling, referral, and rehabilitation support, and called for their inclusion in school-based health education programmes.
3. Expanding Public Health Campaigns:
ACPN reaffirmed its commitment to community sensitisation and health education, noting that informed populations are more resilient to drug-related harms.
“ACPN is committed to empowering community pharmacists and protecting the people,” the statement concluded.
A Student’s Plea to the President
In a moving development, Ogbodo Kelvin, a student at Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, penned an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, calling for swift and resolute action to combat drug abuse in Nigeria.
Describing the crisis as a “national emergency”, Kelvin lamented the porous borders, inadequate enforcement, and easy access to addictive substances like tramadol and codeine-based syrups.
He identified peer pressure, depression, poor parental guidance, and media influence as root causes and listed devastating effects including mental illness, suicide, crime, and economic instability.
Youth-Driven Solutions
Kelvin’s proposed solutions included:
- A national public education campaign, especially targeting rural communities;
- Establishment of rehabilitation centres to support recovering youth;
- Tougher enforcement 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 student wrote.