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Drug Addiction: Youths hit hard as 14.3m Nigerians consumed illicit drugs in one year

Illicit drug use among Nigerians has reached an emergency level with millions, especially young people caught in cycles of substance abuse and addiction and experts have warned that without decisive action, Nigeria risks losing an entire generation to addiction.

Some survivours of drug addiction in their testimonies have also regretted getting involved in hard drugs while the affected parents lamented what it cost them having a drug addict as children.

The last National Drug Use Survey of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency showed that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 had used illicit substances excluding alcohol and tobacco within a one-year period, and that the crisis is most severe among the youth population.

Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Christianah Adeyeye, warned that Nigeria’s drug crisis has escalated into a major public health and national security threat, stressing that the scale of abuse is far beyond isolated cases.

Similarly, Director of Media and Advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said the scale and speed of the problem demand urgent, nationwide action as the situation can currently be classified as indeed a national emergency.

Thousands of vulnerable Nigerian youths scattered all over Nigeria, have now found solace in hard drugs. For N500 or N1,000, which is less than the price of a loaf of bread, they buy themselves what they call relief. A bottle of coke or energy drinks and a pill, doctors say, is often the beginning of addiction. Across Nigeria, cheap and easily available drugs such as tramadol, codeine syrup, and cannabis are finding their way into the hands of teenagers, students, and unemployed youths.

More concerning, however, is that these young Nigerians are now discovering local and improvised ways to get high. What was once a hidden problem is now visible on street corners, in university hostels, and in urban and rural neighbourhoods.

The appeal is simple: affordable, accessible, and fast-acting drugs offer a fleeting sense of energy, confidence, or escape from stress. Yet that temporary relief can quickly turn into long-term dependence, reshaping behaviour and life trajectories.

According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), between January and February 2026 alone, 3,913 arrests, 581 convictions, and over 113,000 kilograms of seizures were recorded. Despite seizures, arrests, and public awareness campaigns, the supply chain remains difficult to control, with substances flowing from legitimate pharmaceutical sources into informal markets and street-level distribution. For many young Nigerians, the path to addiction begins with something dangerously affordable, a cheap high.

Changing face of addiction
For less than the price of a meal, a youth can buy a pill that promises energy, confidence or a temporary escape. Tramadol tablets, often sold in strips of 10–20, go for as little as ¦ 500, while bottles of flavoured codeine syrup cost under ¦ 1,000. Street vendors, informal kiosks, and even some pharmacies make these drugs easy to access, often without prescriptions.

Across Nigeria, the ways young people get high are changing, shaped by cost, availability, peer influence, and environment. In Lagos and Port Harcourt, tramadol, codeine syrup and cannabis dominate. Imported and synthetic strains, like “Colorado,” and locally mixed blends with chemicals are increasingly common. Shisha lounges, nightclubs, and campus hotspots have become social hubs for smoking cannabis and experimenting with flavoured tobacco mixtures.

In Abuja, Rohypnol and diazepam are misused while alcohol-drug mixes, energy drinks with codeine or tramadol are becoming popular. Homemade concoctions, like “monkey tail,” a local gin mixed with cannabis, circulate in urban areas.

Rural communities face a different challenge. Petrol fumes, glue, paint thinners and vulcanizing solution are widely abused. Some youths mix candy with soft drinks, smoke plant leaves like pawpaw, or combine multiple substances for stronger effects. These improvised methods reflect curiosity, boredom and limited resources.

Despite regional differences, prevalence rates among urban and rural youth are similar. The crisis is fueled by affordability, easy access, and social normalisation; some substances are cheaper than soft drinks. Drug use among young Nigerians is no longer only about hard drugs. It has become a culture of coping, experimentation, and survival, where anything from cough syrup in Lagos to petrol fumes in rural communities can provide a fleeting escape.

Slipping into addiction: Abiodun’s experience
For Abiodun, it started during exam season. The former university student began taking tramadol to stay awake and focus. “At first, it was just to stay awake and focus. Then I started taking more, skipping classes, avoiding my parents. It got out of control fast.”

His parents noticed changes but didn’t know how to respond. “My parents tried talking to me; I just shut them out. By the time I realised I was addicted, it was already too late,” he said. [quote]Psychiatrists treating Abiodun say his pattern is common. “Young people often start with one pill, thinking it’s harmless. Within weeks or months, they develop tolerance, dependency, and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or psychosis.”

Families in crisis: Chinedu’s family cries out
Like Abiodun, Chinedu is homeless today. He began with codeine but graduated to all manner of drugs, including local concoctions. Efforts by relatives to stop him proved abortive.

His father, Mr. Livinus, narrated the ugly transformation of his son. “He started coming home late, withdrawing from the family. Then things escalated. Money began to disappear. His behaviour became erratic, aggressive one moment, withdrawn the next. It felt like we were watching a completely different person replace the child we knew.”

Attempts to seek professional help were complicated by cost, distance, and limited availability of treatment centres. “There were times he promised to change,” his father added. “But he kept relapsing. Families like ours face stigma, limited support, and financial strain. Parents need to stay observant, communicate openly with their children, and seek help early.”

From darkness to light: Abdulmalik Yahaya speaks
For another survivor, Abdulmalik Yahaya, addiction began quietly, disguised as relief. He first encountered codeine at just 15 years old, struggling with a fractured home. “Family dynamics started taking their toll. I felt I had no one to talk to. Watching it unfold before my eyes broke my heart,” he said.

A friend introduced him to codeine: “His response was simple: ‘Have this.’ I didn’t know that moment would change my life.” What began as an attempt to escape a harsh reality slowly became a deepening spiral. At first, it was codeine and Rohypnol, then shisha, cigarettes, and cannabis. Dependence set in, and he built a network of friends and dealers to sustain it.

Abdulmalik started skipping classes, becoming the “black sheep” of his family, losing self-esteem, and distancing from friends. “My dad was furious, stopped talking to me, but he always wanted me to understand I was capable of being loved. My mom didn’t live to see my sobriety, but she prayed and motivated me to quit.”

According to him, the turning point came after an intense cannabis episode that led to hallucinations. His family intervened, taking him to a rehabilitation centre. Recovery was challenging.

“I had to say goodbye to so many people I called friends. Even after three years of sobriety, I still feel different, but positive self-talk and awareness of the damage drugs did are enough motivation.”

Writing became his lifeline. “I documented my reflections, regrets, determination, and despair. This became a testimony, then a manuscript, now a published collection of poems. Sharing my story is a huge part of my support system.”

Today, Abdulmalik encourages others: “Don’t do drugs. For those already affected, addiction may bury your purpose for a while, but it can never erase it. There is always a way back from the ashes. If I could do it, anyone can.”

A nurse’s battle
Ekanem-Uweme’s journey began with medical need. Misdiagnosed initially with an incomplete abortion, she later discovered a ruptured tubal pregnancy requiring emergency surgery. Amid physical and emotional pain, a colleague suggested extra Pentazocine for relief. Occasional use slowly became dependent.

“At first, I could go for days without it, but over time, the use became more frequent. After an accident, addiction truly began,” she said. Working in a hospital, she sought help but faced rejection: “I was asked to leave my job and handle the situation alone. I felt ashamed and broken.”

Her life spiralled—severe injection wounds, near overdose, and despair. On December 31, 2018, she realised: “Nothing gained, everything lost. That was the moment I chose recovery.” Recovery was neither instant nor easy. She battled sleepless nights, stayed committed, and rebuilt her life. She completed her university education, supports others struggling with addiction, and speaks publicly about recovery. “Anyone willing can recover,” she said. “My mission is to turn pain into purpose. If my story can help even one person, it is worth sharing.”

Drug abuse crisis
Unlike Abiodun, Chinedu, Abdulmalik and Aggie Ekanem-Uwememay who have been lucky to overcome addiction, millions of Nigerians have been lost to addictions. According to the last National Drug Use Survey, 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 had used illicit substances excluding alcohol and tobacco within a one-year period, representing a prevalence rate of 14.4 percent, nearly three times the global average.

Also, in some private and public hospitals across the country, like the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro Abeokuta, roughly 75 percent of patients have drug-related problems. However, the story of drug experimentation extends beyond pharmaceuticals and cannabis. There are alcohol mixtures and homemade concoctions, like “monkey tail” among others which are improvisations born of curiosity, desperation, and limited options and experts say this reflects a troubling trend.

According to a Senior Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist at Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr. Ayantunde Ayankola, drug abuse is when substances alter mood, thinking or behaviour to the point that daily life, work or social interactions are affected. He highlighted cannabis as a leading contributor to drug-induced mental health issues, including psychosis, depression, and anxiety.

Ayankola, argued that alcohol and tobacco cause physical health problems, while opioids like tramadol can trigger seizures or even suicidal tendencies. He explained that addiction is progressive and destructive. “Character, reputation, school performance, and work decline. Families break down, communities suffer, security becomes a concern,” he said.

He declared that the country is facing a growing drug abuse epidemic that is devastating the nation’s youth, threatening families, and straining communities. “Some patients develop psychosis, seeing things others cannot see or holding beliefs that are not in touch with reality. Other symptoms may resemble depression or anxiety. Alcohol and tobacco cause serious physical health problems. Globally, tobacco alone contributes to cancer, lung disease and hypertension. Drugs like Tramadol can trigger seizures, withdrawal, or even suicide,” he said.

Disclosing that early exposure increases risk, particularly among youth aged 18–35, who form the bulk of patients in his hospital, he said short-term consequences include accidents and risky behavior while long-term use rewires the brain, trapping youth in addiction.

The youth are particularly at risk. The 2017 Nigerian Drug Survey revealed that those aged 18 to 35 are the highest users of drugs, with Southwest Nigeria reporting some of the largest numbers. “In our hospital, roughly 75 percent of patients present with drug-related problems, either dependence or co-occurring mental health conditions. One in four users are female, but only one in 20 seek treatment,” Ayankola noted.

He further explained that early exposure increases the likelihood of addiction and mental health complications. “Young people may develop psychosis, mood disorders, or risky behaviours. Some may exaggerate self-esteem or take dangerous risks. This is why so many resources target youth prevention,” he said.

Families play a key role in prevention. “Parents need to notice unusual behaviour, declining grades, or withdrawal from social life. Early intervention is critical. Schools and communities must educate youth before problems escalate.”

Recovery is possible but challenging. “Stopping drugs is only one aspect. True recovery means regaining life and functioning. Addiction is treatable but not curable, like hypertension. With family and community support, people can recover and live meaningful lives.”

Ayankola warned of inadequate rehabilitation infrastructure. “With over 14 million affected, comprehensive facilities are few. Rehabilitation, follow-up, prevention, and multisectoral collaboration are essential. Policies exist but are poorly implemented due to low political will and limited funding.

“Drug abuse is a societal threat. It requires government commitment, family vigilance, and community engagement. Prevention, early intervention, and treatment programs are key. If we act decisively, we can save lives, protect families, and secure the future of our youth.”

Nigeria facing hidden epidemic – Dr. Martin Awogie
In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, Addictologist, Dr. Martin Awogie warned that drug use may now affect as many as one in four Nigerians. “The last comprehensive survey in 2018 found one in seven used drugs. Recent community-level studies suggest this figure may now be significantly higher with one in five or even one in four,” he said.

Awogie described a growing culture of locally made and improvised substances, often unpredictable in composition. “Users often do not know what they are consuming, which increases health risks and complicates treatment. Young people experiment with anything that gives a high, combining chemicals, herbal mixtures, and pharmaceuticals.”