The 2023 World Drug Report, recently launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has sounded the alarm on the rising global rates of drug abuse and mental illness. The report reveals that the estimated number of people who injected drugs in 2021 was 13.2 million, an 18% increase from previous estimates. Additionally, it states that over 296 million individuals globally used drugs in 2021, marking a 23% increase over the past decade.
The report highlights a concerning trend, with the number of people suffering from drug use disorders skyrocketing to 39.5 million—a staggering 45% increase over the past ten years. It further indicates that the demand for treating drug-related disorders remains largely unmet, with only one in five individuals receiving the necessary treatment for drug use in 2021. The report also reveals widening disparities in access to treatment across different regions.
Expressing her concerns, Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of UNODC, stated, “We are witnessing a continued rise in the number of people suffering from drug use disorders worldwide, while treatment fails to reach all those who need it. Meanwhile, we must step up responses against drug trafficking rings exploiting conflicts and global crises to expand illicit drug cultivation and production, especially synthetic drugs, fueling illicit markets and causing greater harm to people and communities.”
The report’s findings also shed light on the drug abuse situation in Nigeria. According to the report, an alarming 14.4% of Nigerians aged between 15 and 64 abuse drugs, significantly higher than the global average of 5.6%. Nigeria, like many other countries, faces significant challenges in combating drug abuse and trafficking due to its geographical location and extensive international connections.
The Chairman and CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), disclosed that the agency had made substantial progress in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the past 29 months. During a joint press briefing with the UNODC on 19 June 2023, he shared that the agency had arrested 31,675 drug offenders, with 5,147 successfully prosecuted and convicted. The NDLEA also seized over 6.3 million kilograms of assorted drugs within the same period.
Moving forward, Marwa emphasized the need to adopt a more people-centric approach in tackling the drug scourge. He stated, “This year’s theme, ‘People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention,’ furthers the whole-of-society approach to taming the drug scourge. We must empower our youth with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their lives and provide victims of drug abuse with the resources they need to avoid falling victim to drug abuse.”
Various stakeholders have expressed their concerns over the escalating drug abuse crisis. Labour Party’s Peter Obi attributed the high prevalence of substance use disorders among Nigerian youths to leadership failure, poverty, frustration, peer-group pressure, and high unemployment rates. Obi also highlighted the severe health consequences of drug abuse, including a surge in mental health cases and incidents of suicidal behavior.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the annual celebration of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, urged Nigerian society to refrain from stigmatizing and discriminating against drug use victims. Tinubu stressed the importance of education to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the need to support those affected.
Echoing these concerns, Dr. Okwudili Obayi, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, noted that the impact of drug abuse on individuals could have severe consequences. He highlighted the bidirectional link between drug abuse and mental health, emphasizing that drug abuse could either affect, provoke, or precipitate mental illness.
Dr. Obayi further emphasized that drug abuse not only affects the individual but also places a heavy burden on families, society, and the government. It can lead to physical, psychological, and social repercussions, causing strain and upheaval in individuals’ lives.
When it comes to treating drug abuse, Dr. Obayi stressed the importance of acknowledging it as a brain disease. Treatment depends on various factors, such as the condition type, impact level, and location of the individual. However, he highlighted the challenges in providing comprehensive treatment, including lack of awareness, societal stigma, financial constraints, and limited treatment facilities.
The rising rates of drug abuse and the corresponding increase in mental illness cases call for urgent attention and a concerted effort from all stakeholders. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-dimensional approach that focuses on prevention, treatment, and support for individuals affected by drug abuse.
