At a National Youth Conference organized by the Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) detox center in Abuja, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that drug abuse plays a big role in enabling crimes and criminality across Nigeria.
During his presentation, Marwa explained that the abuse and trafficking of illicit substances are major contributors to the country’s current security challenges.
“I am one of the believers in the theory of crime that views the abuse and trafficking of illicit substances as enablers of crime and criminality,” Marwa stated.
He cited the surge of violence in the South East, traditionally a region of relative calm, as partly fueled by drug abuse, particularly methamphetamine, known locally as Mkpuru Mmiri.
Marwa dismissed arguments suggesting that drug use can inspire creativity, pointing out the severe mental health consequences that often accompany cannabis use.
“Many run mad or lose their sense of reasoning after smoking cannabis,” he said.
Marwa urged young people to avoid drug abuse, saying, “Youth is an important period in the human life cycle, a make or mar period,” he noted. “It could become a period of lost opportunities due to the use of illicit drugs.”
Marwa stressed that the economic loss due to drug abuse is substantial, as it diminishes the productivity of the youth, who are essential to driving the country’s GDP.
He also warned of the long-term health implications for those who abuse drugs, comparing the risks to the well-known dangers of tobacco use.
He concluded by reminding the youth that the consequences of drug abuse extend beyond the individual, affecting families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
