The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has called for collaboration from teachers, students, and youths in its fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said this on Wednesday, January, 2025 during the inauguration of the NAFDAC Catch Them Young Project/NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Adedeye said: “I am delighted to be here for the inauguration of the NAFDAC Catch Them Young programme, focusing on drug abuse education and awareness to address this menace in Nigeria.

“This initiative is critical because it targets the segment of the population most affected—our youths and, by extension, our teenagers.

“As part of its mandate, NAFDAC seeks to collaborate with stakeholders on drug demand reduction programmes, including campaigns in secondary schools, to combat drug abuse among young Nigerians.

“Our teachers play a vital role in this fight as they spend significant time with students. I urge teachers to work closely with parents or guardians to identify and address behavioural issues in children and see this effort as part of their contribution to building a better society.

“Drug addiction can stem from both legal substances, such as prescribed medicines, and illicit drugs. This programme is not meant to scare anyone but to foster honest conversations that will help young people make informed decisions about drug use, including alcohol consumption.

“NAFDAC has taken the campaign against drug abuse to the grassroots by re-establishing the NCSC in secondary schools. We will work with teachers and students to catch them young and prevent lives of addiction and destruction.

“We encourage everyone to be agents of change by promoting values that lead to behavioural transformation. It is time for young Nigerians to understand that the epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse is destroying families, crippling the workforce, and destabilising our economy, all of which pose significant threats to the future of good governance in Nigeria.”