LeadingEducational and child health professionals have supported the Nigerian Federal Government’s implementation of compulsory drug screening for high school students, calling it a prudent and essential measure to address the increasing issue of drug and substance misuse among young people in the nation.
Experienced professionals stated that Nigeria could no longer ignore the extent of drug abuse among high school students, cautioning that without immediate and unified efforts, the nation’s future was at risk.
Experts exclusively informed PUNCH Healthwise that teenagers are at a stage where they seek to discover new things, which leads drug dealers to actively target them without any indication of a decrease.
They emphasized that although compulsory testing was a solid initial step, it required the participation of all involved parties, including parents, religious organizations, and community groups, to tackle the issue.
PUNCH Healthwise recently stated that the Federal Government implemented a new policy requiring all newly enrolled students in secondary schools to undergo mandatory drug integrity tests upon admission.
The strategy aimed at addressing drug and substance abuse in high schools involved compulsory drug screening for pupils and temporary exclusion from school for those who consistently test positive following treatment and recovery programs.
The updated policy is included in the National Implementation Guidelines for Preventing Drug and Substance Use in Schools across Nigeria, specifically for secondary institutions. It presents a thorough structure designed to decrease the rising incidence of substance abuse among students and establish more secure educational settings throughout the country.
As per the 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report, it is estimated that 14.4 percent of the population in Nigeria, equivalent to 14.3 million individuals aged 15 to 64 years, has used any type of drug.
A research paper entitled “The Burden of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Epidemiological Studies and Drug Laws,” authored by Abubakar Jatau and colleagues, found that drug abuse rates range from 20 to 40 percent among students and 20.9 percent among young people.
Individuals with a vested interest have indicated that the consumption of drugs and substances among teenagers in Nigeria represents a major public health issue that is prevalent throughout all areas of the nation.
Numerous elements, such as peer influence, easy access, economic hardship, a high rate of unemployment, lack of parental supervision, parents who use drugs, academic stress, and natural curiosity, have been recognized as causes of substance and drug abuse.
Speaking about the issue, former Minister of Education and Emeritus Professor Tunde Adeniran stated that the nation had arrived at a point where immediate actions were essential to shield youth from drug addiction and ensure the country’s future.
“Given the current situation, I believe it’s essential. Therefore, the nation has arrived at that stage,” he stated.
The educator characterized the suggested policy as a prudent choice designed to halt additional harm among young people.
“It’s a sensible choice to support the future and ensure it remains safe from harm,” Adeniran said.
He highlighted that Nigeria is already facing a challenge with drug and substance abuse among secondary school students, and tackling it involves recognizing the situation instead of refusing to accept it.
“We face a drug issue among high school students across the nation, and one approach to address it is to stop ignoring the problem and pretending it doesn’t exist. We do have this issue, and it needs to be resolved,” he stated.
The ex-minister stated that addressing drug addiction among young people requires a joint effort from all involved parties.
“All interested parties must be engaged. Parents, civil society groups, religious organizations, and all relevant stakeholders need to be activated. It will be a comprehensive approach. Not merely a one-way effort. We must address it,” he said.
Adeniran emphasized again that the matter must be viewed as a national crisis due to its impact on the nation’s future.
“This is one of the problems the country needs to address as a crisis. If not, the future will be at risk,” he cautioned.
He mentioned that compulsory drug testing might be a useful initial step in tackling the underlying reasons for student drug use.
“Indeed. That’s an effective beginning,” he remarked.
Additionally, a prominent Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Lagos, Prof. Edamisan Temiye, mentioned that teenagers are especially at risk for drug abuse due to their inclination to explore.
The pediatrician stated that substance abuse typically starts during teenage years, particularly at the secondary school stage.
“Of course, this begins in high school, and you know why it starts there? You understand that teenagers are eager to experiment with everything, it’s part of their nature, and someone needs to maintain control over it,” Temiye said.
The pediatrician also mentioned that steps need to be taken to manage substance use among teenagers, emphasizing, “Those who have turned it (the sale of substances) into a business and are ruining the lives of young people are not backing down,” he stated.
Temiye urged for increased supervision and safeguarding of teenagers to keep them away from negative impacts.
“We must impose some regulation on it, to keep track of our teenagers and ensure they don’t end up in the wrong company,” he added.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
