Extend anti-drug abuse policy to basic schools

The recent unveiling by the federal government of a national policy on drug and substance abuse in schools is a welcome development given the damage, which the scourge is doing to the nation. The policy would significantly help to tackle the ever-rising rate of substance addiction among students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Speaking […]

The recent unveiling by the federal government of a national policy on drug and substance abuse in schools is a welcome development given the damage, which the scourge is doing to the nation. The policy would significantly help to tackle the ever-rising rate of substance addiction among students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the launch of the policy in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the ministry has adopted an 80 per cent implementation and 20 per cent policy development model “in line with international standards,” stressing that education reforms must now translate into measurable outcomes across all states.

Alausa commended UNESCO, UNICEF, and other development partners for their continued support for Nigeria’s education sector, noting that the new policies were designed to either strengthen existing frameworks or fill critical gaps where none previously existed. “This is the first time Nigeria is developing a national policy and implementation guideline on drug abuse in schools,” he said.

The minister further explained that the framework of the policy incorporates counselling and behavioural support mechanisms; warning that government would not hesitate to punish repeat offenders. Aside a new  Substance Use Prevention Unit that has been launched in the ministry to steer nationwide implementation, the ministry in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will roll out awareness programmes, including lectures, competitions, and parent outreach, as well as compulsory drug-integrity testing for new, returning, and randomly selected students in universities and colleges.

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Alausa also mentioned that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will collaborate with the NDLEA Academy in Jos to train teachers and strengthen support systems, aiming to reduce drug use and its adverse effects on learning and school safety across all levels of education.

Drug and/or substance misuse, especially among young adults who constitute the bulk of students’ population, has been a major public health concern in Nigeria.  Criminality and prostitution are among the social problems often linked to juvenile substance abuse. Substance abuse often leads youths to engage in reckless behaviours that expose them to several risks including contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and road accidents that could result in permanent disabilities. Disproportionate number of youths involved with alcohol and other drugs face an increased risk of death through suicide, homicide, accident, and illnesses.

Students who persistently abuse substances usually experience challenges that include academic difficulties and poor peer relationships. Mental health specialists affirm that drug and substance abuse interferes with short-term memory, learning, and psychomotor skills of students. Truancy increases students’ chances of dropping out of school. Mental health problems such as depression, apathy, withdrawal, psychosocial dysfunctions, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and suicide are all linked to substance abuse among young persons including students.

The problem with policies of this nature is not about its aptness but more about implementation. If this policy is to succeed to any remarkable extent; the home, the school, and the larger society all have their separate and collective roles to play because the prevalence of drug or substance abuse has adverse consequences for families, the community, and the entire society. Substance abuse by a young adult can drain a family’s financial resources. At the moment, the home, the school and the society do not seem to be going enough in the fight against the alarmingly-growing social menace of substance abuse in the country.

While parents must not look the other way, schools must go beyond the curriculum contents designed to educate students on the dangers of drug abuse or substance abuse and addiction. Regular checks of students’ bags and belongings should be carried out by school teachers in the hostels and classrooms. Counselling clubs in schools could collaborate with the NDLEA to organise anti-drug weeks to raise students’ awareness on the dangers associated with substance abuse.

While we advocate that the drug abuse policy be extended to basic schools in Nigeria owing to the sophistication and complexity globally imposed by modern technology on 21st century societies in which school age children live today, we call on the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to increase its surveillance on the manufacture, circulation, and marketing of sedatives in Nigeria.

Daily Trust calls on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and other regulatory bodies to scrutinise print and electronic advertisements of alcoholic drinks using celebrities who the youth population often see as role models. It’s time for all relevant stakeholders to be proactive in the fight against drug and substance abuse among youths.