The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says no fewer than 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, revealed this at the inaugural ceremony of the agency’s youth initiative, titled ”Catch Them Young,” held on Wednesday at the Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt.
She stated that research findings revealed that one in every four high-risk drug users has been arrested for drug-related crimes.
According to her, the arrests included 73 per cent for drug possession, 12 per cent for theft, five per cent for sex work, four per cent for burglary, and two per cent for shop lifting.
‘’Note that this data only shows the number of arrests; if we consider that most crimes are unreported, then we will see that we have a huge problem on our hands,’’ she said.
Adeyeye, however, noted the negative effects of drug abuse on families, society, and the nation’s socio-economic development.
She stated that the circumstance prompted NAFDAC to launch a comprehensive, coordinated, and intensive programme aimed at lowering the prevalence of drug usage among secondary school pupils.
