Over 4 Million Struggle with Drug Abuse in South-West Nigeri

A mental health expert and clinical psychologist with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Olanrewaju Sodeinde, has called for more collaborative efforts to stem the rising tide of drug and substance abuse in the country, saying that over four million people in the South-West are believed to be struggling with drug abuse, according to a UNODC report.

Dr Sodeinde, who is the Deputy Director of the Clinical Psychology Department of the hospital, said that contrary to the assumption that drug use is limited to men, one out of every four drug users is a woman, adding that the number of women involved in drug and substance use is steadily increasing.

The clinical psychologist disclosed this on Saturday in Abeokuta during a walkathon titled “Kick Against Drug Abuse”, organised by a socio-cultural group, the Lisabi Dynamic Sisters, to sensitise residents of the state on the need to stay away from drugs for a productive and meaningful life.

The group had earlier staged a sensitisation walk from the Sapon Flyover Bridge to the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland in Ake, Abeokuta, sharing leaflets with people and urging them to shun drug and substance use.

Speaking on the rising cases of drug abuse, Dr Sodeinde said: “Globally, over 300 million people are said to be into drug use.

“According to a UNODC report, Nigeria is recorded to have over 14.4 million drug users, with the South-West prevalence rate estimated at 22.4 per cent, translating to over four million people using drugs in this region alone.”

He said the figures were also widely believed to be grossly underreported, as many individuals, out of fear of being stigmatised, do not present themselves to health professionals, and therefore many cases do not make it into official records.

Sodeinde said many individuals are treated outside formal healthcare systems by traditional healers, where some are restrained, beaten or subjected to unscientific methods of “treatment”, and as a result, such cases are neither properly managed nor reported.

He added, “Hospital admissions related to drug use are also on the rise. As a professional working in a neuropsychiatric hospital, I can attest that more than 80 per cent of patient admissions are drug-related.

“The cost of treatment is extremely high. Initial admission alone can range between ₦500,000 and ₦600,000, and treatment may last one month, two months or even up to six months.

“These costs place a heavy financial burden on families — resources that could have been used for education, nutrition or personal development.”

Sodeinde said the menace of substance abuse cannot be overemphasised, as it alters both the structure and function of the brain, affecting how individuals think, reason, and make decisions.

He explained that although drug abuse is often overlooked and underreported, its telltale signs are evident everywhere, affecting individuals, families, workplaces and communities.

He said, “Drug abuse impacts every area of a person’s life and creates a ripple effect that extends to families and society at large. Many individuals with great potential — who could have contributed meaningfully to national development — are instead lost to substance abuse.”

Sodeinde said one major challenge to tackling substance abuse is the high cost of treatment, urging the government to consider bearing a significant percentage of the cost, as is done in some other countries.

The mental health expert also called on parents and families to be vigilant about their children and seek professional help promptly when they notice any untoward behaviour.

He said, “Due to peer pressure, curiosity, financial temptation, experimentation or stress, many young people try drugs without understanding the consequences.

“When substance abuse takes hold, it affects their education, health and overall functioning. Many of these outcomes are preventable if adequate care, supervision and guidance are provided early.”

Dr Sodeinde commended the association for investing in efforts targeted at saving thousands of young Nigerians from the evils of substance use and its unpalatable consequences.

Earlier, the President of the association, Olori Aderonke Omolola Erinle, said the walkathon was organised to further drive community awareness and address the growing challenge of drug abuse and its harmful effects on individuals, families and society.

Speaking also, a retired Mental Health Information Manager with the hospital, Dr Oyinade Tomori, also called on parents to monitor their children and speak out if they notice any signs of drug use.

Dr Tomori said many cases of drug and substance abuse are presented when they have already become severe, a situation that sometimes affects the rate of recovery.

One of the leaders of the association, Mrs Kehinde Ogundipe, also hailed the initiative, saying it would go a long way in sending strong signals to residents of the state indulging in drug and substance use.

Mrs Ogundipe said the association would, from time to time, explore further ways to assist residents, adding that it plans to collaborate with another foundation to support the feeding of some primary school pupils in the state.