Stakeholders Push To End Drug Abuse Among Youths, In Workplaces

The Institute for Public Safety and Prevention of Sociopathic Behaviour, in partnership with the African Youth Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP), Nigeria, has called for urgent action to end drug abuse among youths and within organisations nationwide.

This call was made at a two-day training workshop on Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention in the Workplace, held in Abuja to mark International Workers’ Day. The event’s theme was: Creating a Safe Work Environment and Enhancing Productivity for Organisational Sustainability.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Chris Ibe, the Institute’s rector, said the workshop marks the first national training on workplace drug abuse prevention, organised to tackle the growing crisis in line with the 2025 International Workers’ Day observance.

“This is a huge concern to the global community, especially here in Nigeria, where drug abuse is alarmingly high,” Ibe said. “According to the National Drug Use Survey, Nigeria has 14.4 million drug users, far above the global average.”

He noted that while advocacy has primarily focused on reducing drug demand and supply, drug abuse in the workplace remains a neglected area. “This is what we are addressing in partnership with AYICRIP,” he added.

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Highlighting Nigeria’s low productivity, Ibe said: “We are a consumption nation. What is our productivity level? How much is drug and substance abuse contributing to this crisis?”

He described the trend of working under the influence—“drunk at work, drunk and driving”—as a dangerous practice seen even among law enforcement officers. “How can a drunk officer with a gun ensure safety? How productive can a drunk employee be?” he asked.

Ibe also questioned whether organisations have policies to support workers struggling with addiction. “Do companies have recovery programmes? What are the existing workplace laws on drug and substance abuse?” he queried.

He said the workshop brought together stakeholders from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), civil society, academia, and government institutions to find lasting solutions.

“We are also working with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation,” Ibe said, adding that the upcoming 11th National Youth Summit on Drug and Substance Abuse will be held from November 25 to 27.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Institute’s Governing Council, Emmanuel Ibe, stressed the need for early intervention and parental involvement in preventing substance abuse.

“Most people who started abusing substances in their teens. Prevention must begin from childhood,” he said. “Parents must monitor their children, guide them, and prevent associations with bad influences.”

He emphasised the need for family, schools, religious institutions, and the government to work together to achieve zero tolerance for drug abuse in the country.

“No level of alcohol is good for the system. Yet many parents unknowingly fund their children’s harmful habits,” he noted. “If you drive through Abuja streets at night, you see youths driving recklessly, resulting from a lack of guidance.”

Ibe urged religious institutions to actively preach against drug abuse and promote moral values among young people.