The Hidden Cost of Addiction: How Substance Abuse Impacts Nigerian Families and Society

Substance abuse and addiction across the world is becoming an increasingly large, complex and serious public health concern. This is particularly true in Nigeria, due to the recent increase in drug abuse amongst the younger Nigerian generation. Unfortunately, Nigeria has recently experienced a sharp rise in drug and alcohol misuse, including a rise in cannabis, […]

Substance abuse and addiction across the world is becoming an increasingly large, complex and serious public health concern. This is particularly true in Nigeria, due to the recent increase in drug abuse amongst the younger Nigerian generation.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has recently experienced a sharp rise in drug and alcohol misuse, including a rise in cannabis, codeine, prescription medication and heroin addiction. This brings with it a whole host of issues and consequences to local communities, including issues with mental health, unemployment, suicide rates and a general pressure on local mental health and health care services.

Addiction is affecting both major cities and more rural areas across Nigeria, with alarming reports of addiction related crimes and activities taking place across the country. Despite campaigns being led by the Nigerian government and Nigerian charities, there is a general lack of addiction treatment infrastructure within the country, as well as poor police and law enforcement and a general lack of funding.

There are other barriers to treatment, too. These include an overall negative stigma associated with drug and alcohol addiction in the country, meaning that sufferers are a lot less likely to come forward for a number of different reasons. Due to this, people across Nigeria are needlessly losing their lives and suffering from addiction issues when they should have access to the treatment they need and deserve.

This article will discuss the barriers to addiction treatment in more detail as well as the different steps that can be taken to help those with addiction issues living in Nigeria get the help they need.

Understanding Addiction: The Nigerian Context

Before we delve into the solutions available to help, it is first important to acknowledge the extent of the problem as well as the different barriers to entry when it comes to treatment.

Unfortunately, a recent study has found that approximately 15% of all Nigerians across the country (aged 15 – 64 years of age) are addicted to some form of psychoactive substance, with a staggering 46% of all students in the Southwest of Nigeria involved in some form of substance abuse with codeine, tramadol and cannabis.

In fact, when it comes to students, addiction of most types is on the rise. Unfortunately, hospital admissions caused by psychiatric admissions have increased by 300% between 2019 and 2023. In addition to this, in 2024, opioids became the leading cause of overdoses in Nigeria.

There are a number of reasons why addiction is on the rise across the country. For example, recent socioeconomic pressures and unemployment levels across Nigeria are both pushing young people towards drugs, as they struggle to get started in life. Likewise, access to drugs and alcohol has never been easier across Nigeria. There are now more pharmacies across the country than ever, as well as online access to drugs such as codeine.

The Impact Addiction has on Families in Nigeria

Unfortunately, addiction carries with it a huge stigma across Nigeria. This has a huge impact on families and loved ones across the country, which has a huge emotional and psychological toll on the likes of parents, children, extended family, partners and friends.

Naturally, the amount of stress addiction causes on families and loved ones often causes a breakdown of relationships and family units, which often leads to arguments, abuse, neglect and divorce which then leads to more stress and abuse.

These things all have a knock-on effect, which can have a mental and financial strain on loved ones. Addiction can often lead to lost income, healthcare issues and therefore expenses, crime in order to fund their addiction, selling their assets or stealing.

This then brings stigma and shame to Nigerian families, who very much pride themselves on integrity, a close family unit and strength. In order to help support addiction recovery across the country, there needs to be improved access to help and support as well as more education surrounding addiction and its knock on effects.

The Impact Addiction has on Workplaces in Nigeria

Unfortunately, addiction has an impact on both families and workplaces across Nigeria which has a huge impact on mental health , levels of self-esteem, loss of productivity and an increase in absenteeism which has its down knock on effects.

As people grapple with addiction issues, they are less likely to make it to work on time, act reasonably at work and ultimately hold down a full time job. This then has an impact on housing, family and social life. Likewise, with addiction in the picture, people are much more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and mistake, which can be physically dangerous at times depending on the nature of your job.

As more people struggle with addiction and struggle to hold down a job, this then has an impact on businesses and the overall economy, as well as increasing the amount of stigma and discrimination issues within the workplace.

The Impact Addiction has on the Wider Community in Nigeria

As addiction issues and levels across Nigeria increase, as does the burden on public health systems such as law enforcement and healthcare. This is more likely to place a demand on already stretched services across the country, to create longer waiting lists and an overall increased demand for mental health services.

Unfortunately, drug abuse and addiction are undeniably linked to an increase in crime and overall life insecurity, including an increase in theft, abuse and other violent offenses linked to drug abuse including domestic violence.

In order for there to be real change, there needs to be an increase in education surrounding addiction and the serious and damning impact it can have on families, the workplace and the wider community across Nigeria.

Barriers to Addiction Recovery in Nigeria

There are a number of barriers to addiction recovery across Nigeria, which is partly to blame for the recent and very serious increase and spike in addiction issues across the country.

1. Stigma and shame surrounding addiction

As briefly discussed above in this article, there is significant shame and stigma associated with drug and alcohol abuse and addiction across Nigeria. This shame and stigma that Nigerian families have makes it incredibly difficult for individuals quietly suffering from addiction issues to come forward and get the help they need.

This stigma and shame also mean that there is a general lack of education when it comes to the consequences, complexities and ins and outs of drug addiction issues across Nigerian schools and workplaces.

2. Limited access to rehab facilities

Likewise, a number of issues such as a lack of funding and government policy means that there are a lack of alcohol rehabilitation treatment facilities across the country. This means that services that are available are stretched and only limited to major cities, meaning that a lot of individuals who live more rurally are having to suffer.

3. Shortage of treatment specialists

As with many other countries across the world, there is a lack of trained professionals across Nigeria, including a lack of trained therapists, counsellors and addiction specialist doctors. Once again, this means that services and personnel are stretched and unable to deliver the best value and treatment to patients.

4. Gaps in policy

Finally, there are many gaps in treatment policy within Nigeria. For example, there are outdated and fragmented policies still in place until this day, with the country’s National Drug Control Masterplan focussing on control and enforcement, rather than treatment and recovery.

Likewise, current Nigerian policy fails to understand and acknowledge the relationship between addiction and mental health, meaning that subsequently people aren’t being treated with the other in mind. This creates insufficient integration of therapy techniques and people are suffering needlessly.

The underfunded healthcare system across Nigeria is only contributing massively to the drug and alcohol crisis, with a growing reliance on struggling NGOs, religious and community centres for help and support.

Routes to Recovery and Hope for Nigeria

Despite the above, there is still hope for Nigeria where addiction and recovery is concerned. There are now an increasing number of successful rehabilitation stories and community led initiatives which are making great strides towards better access to treatment.

Over time, the stigma that surrounds addiction and treatment across the country is changing and the role of family and peer support is becoming increasingly important. In coming years, there will hopefully be improved government policies which focus more on public health campaigns and increased funding where recovery is concerned, as opposed to law enforcement for those found abusing substances.

As addiction becomes a bigger issue across the country, the importance of early intervention and better education for the next generation will become increasingly important, as will the role religious and community groups have when it comes to addiction recovery.

Conclusion

This article has highlighted the many knock-on effects that addiction can have on families, the workplace and the wider and overall community across Nigeria. Addiction in Nigeria is on the rise, and the country as a whole need to make significant strides and changes in order to improve access to rehab treatment, break down stigmas surrounding addiction, improve overall education regarding addiction and finally force the Nigerian government to allow for better policy and funding to make real, tangible change. With help from the government as well as community groups, the state of addiction issues across Nigeria can be improved and lives can be saved.