By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, has warned that no nation can achieve sustainable growth when its most productive population is weakened by drug abuse, describing the crisis as a national epidemic threatening Nigeria’s human capital.

Speaking on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Week 2026 Undergraduate Forum at Kaduna State University (KASU), Balarabe called for urgent action to address the demand side of substance abuse, particularly among young people.

Citing data from the National Drug Use Survey, she said about 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in drug abuse — nearly three times the global average.

She added that the North-West accounts for about three million users, with Kaduna State recording a prevalence rate of around 10 percent, representing nearly half a million people.

“These numbers have names and faces,” she said, noting that substance abuse erodes mental clarity, drains finances, and destroys families.

The deputy governor linked drug abuse to rising insecurity, stating that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has established connections between substance use and crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.

“When you see senseless violence, in many cases, drugs are involved,” she said.

She warned of the long-term consequences, stressing that “a brilliant mind of today can become a permanent patient tomorrow,” adding that the loss of human capital poses a grave risk to national development.

Reflecting on her student days, Balarabe said many of her contemporaries fell victim to substance abuse.

“Many of our brilliant and promising mates experimented and were lost. Today, they are either gone or living far below their potential,” she said.

She urged students to resist peer pressure and avoid risky experimentation.

“Do not let a temporary high determine a permanent low,” she cautioned.

Balarabe commended the Kaduna State Government for establishing the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA), describing it as the first of its kind in Nigeria focused on the demand side of drug abuse.

According to her, the initiative has earned recognition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the state’s strategy now referred to as the “Kaduna Model” for prioritising prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation over punishment.

“We are building systems to prevent young people from falling into addiction and to support those already affected,” she said.

She encouraged students to embrace a new mindset, stressing that “it is better to be clear-headed than high,” and that productivity should be the new aspiration.

In his keynote address, the Director-General of KADSAMHSA, Mr Joseph O. Ike, said Kaduna is redefining drug prevention through science-driven and integrated approaches.

He criticised traditional awareness campaigns, describing them as ineffective.

“Awareness alone is not prevention,” he said, noting that policies must target specific risk factors driving substance use among young people.

Ike attributed progress in the sector to Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, highlighting the enactment of the Kaduna State Mental Health Law in September 2025, which domesticated the National Mental Health Act.

He explained that vulnerability among young people aged 18–25 is driven by a combination of biological, social, and economic factors.

According to him, these include incomplete brain development affecting impulse control, academic and social pressures, and the impact of digital comparison, which can lead to isolation.

To address these risks, he said KADSAMHSA is strengthening protective factors such as social connectedness, access to mental health services, and early intervention systems.

Ike also announced the Kaduna Child Amplified Prevention System (KdCHAMPS), a data-driven initiative designed to identify early warning signs such as academic decline, trauma, and social withdrawal.

He urged KASU to adopt a three-tier prevention strategy, including routine mental health screening, targeted mentorship for at-risk students, and early intervention without punitive consequences.

The KADSAMHSA boss emphasised that drug prevention must move away from punitive approaches.

“We must replace the ‘War on Drugs’ with a ‘Movement for Health’ built on science, compassion, and community support,” he said.