DRUG ABUSE: EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
By Sani Umar
Drug abuse and substance misuse have become some of the most pressing social and public health challenges confronting nations across the world. From developed to developing countries, governments and international organizations are intensifying efforts to curb the growing menace, which has assumed alarming proportions and continues to threaten the stability and progress of societies.
The reasons behind the increasing involvement in drugs and other psychoactive substances vary from one individual to another. For some, substance use is wrongly perceived as a symbol of sophistication, affluence, or social status, while others resort to drugs due to peer pressure, emotional distress, unemployment, or a desire to escape life’s challenges. Unfortunately, what often begins as experimentation gradually develops into dependency and addiction, leading many into a cycle of destruction.
The consequences of drug abuse are devastating. Countless young people have lost promising futures, abandoned their education and careers, damaged family relationships, and in many cases suffered severe mental and physical health complications. Addiction frequently results in loss of productivity, involvement in criminal activities, and the erosion of moral and social values.
Perhaps even more troubling is the fact that most victims of drug abuse belong to the productive segment of the population, the very age group whose energy, creativity, and skills are needed for national growth and development.
As a result, countries are increasingly grappling with reduced productivity, rising crime rates, and mounting healthcare costs associated with rehabilitation and treatment.
The burden of addressing drug abuse extends beyond the individual. Families, communities, and governments are spending enormous resources on rehabilitation programmes, medical care, and social interventions aimed at rescuing victims and reintegrating them into society.
Equally disturbing is the growing trend of illicit drug trafficking and the misuse of prescription and medicinal drugs for intoxication, further compounding the problem.
It is against this disturbing reality that the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, raised his voice and called for urgent and collective action to tackle the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. His message during the commemoration of the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking goes beyond the routine statements usually made on such occasions. It reflects a deep concern about the future of young people and the social consequences of allowing drug abuse to spread unchecked.
The governor’s position is both practical and insightful. He believes that the fight against drug abuse cannot be left solely in the hands of security agencies or the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Rather, it requires the participation of every segment of society.
Parents must pay greater attention to the upbringing of their children and monitor their associations. Teachers and educational institutions should intensify guidance and counselling efforts, while religious and traditional leaders must continue to use their influence to preach against substance abuse and promote moral values.
Governor Aliyu also recognizes the important role of healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, community leaders, and the media in combating the menace. Through awareness campaigns, education, rehabilitation programmes, and continuous public enlightenment, these stakeholders can help prevent drug abuse and support those already trapped in addiction.
His concern extends beyond drug consumption to the growing threat of illicit drug trafficking, which has become an international criminal enterprise with devastating local consequences. The trafficking of illicit substances fuels organized crime, increases insecurity, and makes dangerous drugs more accessible to vulnerable groups, particularly young people.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the governor’s intervention is that his administration has gone beyond mere rhetoric. By establishing the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Substance Abuse Control and Prevention, the government has created an institutional framework dedicated to coordinating awareness campaigns, collaborating with relevant agencies and organizations, and carrying out sensitization programmes across communities and local government areas.
This initiative demonstrates an understanding that prevention is as important as enforcement. A society that fails to educate its people about the dangers of substance abuse will continue to produce new victims regardless of how many traffickers are arrested. Likewise, those who have already fallen victim to addiction need rehabilitation and support rather than condemnation and abandonment.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s message therefore represents a call to collective responsibility. It is a reminder that drug abuse is not merely a criminal issue but a social, economic, and moral challenge that threatens the future of society itself. The destruction of one young person through drugs is not only a personal tragedy but also a loss of human capital and a setback to national development.
The governor’s position underscores an important truth: protecting future generations requires a united front. Governments can formulate policies and provide resources, but families, communities, religious institutions, schools, and the media must also play their respective roles. Only through sustained awareness, effective prevention strategies, rehabilitation programmes, and a collective determination to eradicate illicit trafficking can society break the devastating grip of drug abuse.
In raising this alarm, Governor Ahmed Aliyu is essentially calling on society to save its future by saving its youth. His message is timely, his concerns are genuine, and his proposed solution, collective action, remains perhaps the most effective weapon in the fight against one of the most dangerous social challenges of our time.
