The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it counselled, treated and rehabilitated 53,843 persons struggling with drug use across its 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide in the last five years.
The agency also disclosed that it conducted 17,213 outreaches under its War Against Drug Abuse campaign within the period as part of efforts to prevent substance abuse and promote public awareness.
Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, disclosed this as the Chairperson of the 5th Conversation Conference by Intersect Consortium at Nicon Luxury, Abuja.
Marwa, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said mental health challenges and substance abuse were closely connected.
He stressed that addressing one without considering the other would undermine efforts to support affected young people.
According to him, the agency encountered cases in which drug use was linked to underlying emotional and psychological struggles, including anxiety, depression and trauma.
In his words, some young people turn to drugs to cope with emotional distress, making it necessary to strengthen mental health support alongside efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa said although the NDLEA would sustain its operations against drug traffickers and cartels, enforcement remained only one aspect of its responsibilities.
He explained that the agency’s balanced intervention strategy also prioritised drug demand reduction through prevention, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
Marwa said untreated depression, trauma and other psychological challenges often contributed to drug abuse, particularly among young people, warning that tackling substance abuse without addressing its underlying causes would yield limited results.
He called for increased funding for mental health services, more trained psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and community health workers, as well as the integration of mental health care into primary healthcare to improve access to treatment.
The NDLEA boss said the approach informed the WADA campaign, which has taken anti-drug messages to schools, campuses, markets, places of worship, workplaces and communities.
He also highlighted the agency’s 24-hour toll-free helpline, which provides support to people experiencing distress and families seeking assistance.
According to him, the agency has introduced community-based livelihood programmes in three pilot communities across different states to help families previously dependent on illicit drug cultivation earn legitimate incomes.
He said the initiative would be expanded to other geopolitical zones, adding that sustainable livelihoods could reduce poverty, ease stress and strengthen families.
Marwa urged the media to give greater attention to the agency’s counselling, treatment and rehabilitation efforts, rather than focusing mainly on arrests, drug seizures and prosecutions.
He also called for inclusive mental health services that prioritise women, children, persons with disabilities and families displaced by conflict, stressing that no single government agency or organisation could address the challenge alone.
On the impact of technology and social media, Marwa warned that young Nigerians were increasingly exposed to cyberbullying, unrealistic social comparisons, excessive screen use and online content that glamorised drug consumption.
He added that drug traffickers had also learnt to exploit digital platforms to reach potential users.
He, therefore, called for more effective social media campaigns to counter harmful narratives and for parents and schools to encourage open conversations about technology use and substance abuse.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Advancing Youth Mental Health in Nigeria through Access, Action and Advocacy,” Marwa said affordable mental healthcare and addiction treatment should be available to ordinary Nigerians, irrespective of their income or location.
He called for more trained professionals, better integration of mental health services into primary healthcare and treatment systems that would not turn away young people seeking assistance.
On early intervention, the NDLEA chairman said identifying and supporting students experiencing difficulties could prevent their problems from escalating to the point where rehabilitation became necessary.
He also identified stigma as a major obstacle to seeking mental health support, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders and the media to create an environment where young people could speak openly about their struggles.
Marwa called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare professionals, educators, civil society organisations, the private sector and the media to expand prevention programmes, referral systems, treatment and public education.
Addressing young people, he urged them to seek help early, support one another and avoid drug use, assuring them that their challenges did not diminish their potential.
Earlier, the chairperson of Intersect Consortium, Hajiya Ammuna Lawan Ali, said the fifth edition of the conference marked a shift from conversations about mental health to practical action.
She said mental health interventions must reflect Nigeria’s cultural, religious, social and economic realities while drawing on proven global practices.
Ali called for greater investment in prevention, early intervention, community-based care, rehabilitation and research, stressing that families, teachers, religious leaders and primary healthcare workers often served as the first points of contact for people experiencing mental health challenges.
She urged stakeholders to strengthen these community structures and link them with professional mental health services to ensure early intervention and reduce stigma.
Ali also called for stronger partnerships among government, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions, and academia.
She stressed that people with lived experience of mental health conditions and their families must have a meaningful role in shaping policies and services designed to support them.
The conference, held shortly after World Mental Health Day, focused on strategic investment, partnerships and community-led action, with participants calling for sustained financing and accountability to make quality mental health care accessible to all Nigerians.
