…Says Mental Health, Substance Abuse Closely Linked, Calls for Balanced Intervention
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has counselled, treated and rehabilitated 53,843 persons struggling with drug use across its 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide in the last five years.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this in his remarks delivered by the Assistant Comptroller-General, Archie-Abia Ibinabo, Director of Seaport Operations, at the 4th Vanguard Mental Health Summit held in Lagos on Friday.
Marwa, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the summit, said mental health challenges and substance abuse were closely connected, stressing that addressing one without considering the other would undermine efforts to support affected young people.
He said the agency encountered cases in which drug use was linked to underlying emotional and psychological struggles, including anxiety, depression and trauma.
“At the NDLEA, we meet this reality every day. Behind almost every case of drug abuse is a story of pain: anxiety nobody noticed, depression nobody named, trauma nobody treated,” he said.
According to him, 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.
The summit, themed “Advancing Youth Mental Health in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, health professionals, and stakeholders to address mental health challenges among young Nigerians.
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