2 million people in South-South use psychoactive substances – NDLEA

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that 2.1 million people in the South-South region, who are between the ages of 15 and 64, use psychoactive substances.

At a ceremony on Wednesday to commemorate the 2024 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse, Stella Ngwoke, the Commander of NDLEA Command in Port Harcourt Ports, revealed this in Onne.

Ngwoke, who quoted statistics from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, said that about 14.3 million persons aged between 15 and 64 used illicit drugs in the country.

“We are talking about drug use for non-medical purposes. It has also been discovered that one out of every four drug users is a woman.

“In Rivers, the prevalence rate is 15 per cent of the said population, which is estimated at 580,000 people,” she said.

The most commonly misused drugs in the South-South region, according to the commander, are codeine-containing cough syrups, cannabis, tramadol, and morphine.

According to Ngwoke, administrations at all levels and pertinent stakeholders must step forward to address the current reality of drug use in the nation.


According to her, the NDLEA has already taken aggressive measures to guarantee a well-rounded strategy for lowering the demand for the frequently abused medications.

According to the NDLEA official, one aspect of the strategy involved implementing the National Drug Control Master Plan, 2020–2025’s directives to limit the supply of psychotropic substances and narcotic narcotics.

 The commander reported that a sizable cargo of drugs from India had already been seized as a result of the agency's interdiction efforts at the ports.

Ngwoke reported that the organization had confiscated 1,750 codeine-infused cough medication boxes in May, totaling 26,250 kg.

“Also, in June, another seizure of 875 cartons of cough syrup with codeine, also containing 17,500 bottles and weighing 26,250 kg, was made.

“The street value of the drug in these two operations is estimated at over N4 billion,’’ she said.

Ngwoke stated that mop-up activities were conducted to remove drug joints throughout the Port Harcourt Ports route in addition to the seizure.

Speaking as well, Mr. Mohammed Babadende, the Special Guest of Honour, voiced concern over the widespread drug misuse in the nation.

According to him, drug usage has now changed into a worldwide issue that affects millions of people's lives on an extensive level.

Babadende applauded the NDLEA for its diligent efforts in combating drug usage, addiction, and trafficking throughout the nation.


"We all know that addiction has a direct impact on drug accessibility, affordability, and availability," he remarked.

NAFDAC's Deputy Director of Port Operations, Mr. Bayo Adepoju, stated that while codeine and tramadol are prescription medications, possessing them in excessive amounts is against the law. (NAN)