International Youth Day: Group urges Nigerian youths to reject illicit drugs, demands more rehabilitation centres

As Nigeria marked International Youth Day on Wednesday, the Frontline Advocacy Initiative (FAI) urged young people to reject illicit drugs and called on governments to increase investment in addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.

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International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August to draw attention to issues affecting young people and promote their participation in social and economic development. The theme for the 2026 commemoration is, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

In a statement, the Founder and Executive Director of FAI, Shakirudeen Bankole, expressed concern about illicit drug use among young people and what he described as inadequate treatment and rehabilitation services for people struggling with substance dependence.

Mr Bankole, who is also President of the Alimosho Youth Development Association of Nigeria (AYDAN), said his concerns were informed by his work with young people and observations across communities in Lagos State.

“As the President of AYDAN, in my routine commute across the large local government area of Lagos State, I encounter daily the brutal consequences of illicit substance use and drug abuse,” he said.

“I see many young lives waste away, irretrievably. I see how the drug culture contributes to aggression, crime and increased vulnerability to health problems. We cannot continue like this.”

Drug use among young people

Mr Bankole identified cannabis, tramadol and other opioids, codeine-based mixtures, cocaine, methamphetamine and substances sold as ecstasy among drugs of concern.

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He warned young people against experimenting with illicit substances, noting that substance use could have serious consequences for their physical and mental health.

He said dependence could develop without an individual initially intending to become addicted, particularly as psychoactive substances can affect brain functions associated with reward, motivation, mood, judgement and behaviour.

FAI said preventing young people from initiating drug use must be accompanied by access to treatment for those already struggling with substance use disorders.

Treatment gap

FAI also raised concerns about the country’s capacity to provide treatment for people struggling with drug dependence and other mental health conditions.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) currently lists 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide and has announced plans to establish more.

Meanwhile, the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria has said there are fewer than 200 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 200 million people.

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Mr Bankole said the shortage highlights the need for greater investment in rehabilitation and mental health services, particularly in densely populated urban communities.

FAI called on the federal and state governments to urgently expand rehabilitation and addiction treatment centres across the country.

The group also urged the government to provide grants, scholarships and training opportunities for Nigerians studying clinical psychology, psychiatry and other therapeutic professions.

It further called for retention incentives for mental health professionals to help curb migration.

“Prevention is important, but prevention without treatment is not enough. We need more rehabilitation centres, more psychologists, more psychiatrists and more trained therapists,” Mr Bankole said.

Community responsibility

FAI also called for greater involvement of families, schools, religious institutions, community leaders and government agencies in preventing drug abuse among young people.

The group said drug prevention should be treated as a sustained community responsibility rather than an issue left solely to law enforcement agencies.

“To our young people, I say this: your future is worth more than a temporary high. Do not allow peer pressure, frustration or curiosity to take away the years ahead of you. Let us turn a new leaf,” Mr Bankole added.