The National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Anderson Tony, has called for stronger institutionalized partnerships among government agencies, professional bodies, schools, communities and other stakeholders to effectively combat drug and substance abuse in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.
Tony made the call on Wednesday while addressing journalists at a press conference organised by the Akwa Ibom State Branch of the ACPN.
He stressed that the association could not tackle the growing drug abuse crisis alone, noting that the time had come to move from isolated interventions to institutionalised partnerships and sustained government-supported programmes.
According to him, drug abuse remains one of the most persistent and dangerous public health challenges confronting the world, with the rapid proliferation of synthetic drugs, the emergence of online illicit drug markets and the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking networks creating new pathways through which dangerous substances reach vulnerable populations.
“The illicit drug market thrives wherever there are gaps in regulation, enforcement, public awareness and community intervention. Unfortunately, one of the most vulnerable populations in this battle is our young people—children in secondary schools and, increasingly, even younger children,” he said.
The immediate past Chairman of ACPN, Akwa Ibom State Branch, noted that available national estimates indicate that millions of Nigerians within the productive age bracket have used psychoactive substances.
He, however, observed that behind every statistic was a human being, a family, a community and potentially an entire generation whose future could be compromised by substance abuse.
Speaking on the ACPN Inter-Secondary Schools Anti-Drug Abuse Competition, Tony disclosed that he initiated the programme in 2024 while serving as Chairman of the ACPN Akwa Ibom State Branch.
He explained that the initiative was designed to take the campaign against drug abuse beyond speeches, seminars and occasional awareness campaigns by placing the message directly in the hands, minds and voices of young people.
“The vision was simple but ambitious: to take the fight against drug abuse beyond speeches, seminars and occasional campaigns, and place the message directly in the hands, minds and voices of our young people,” he said.
Tony described the victory of Master KiniAbasi Ubong David in the anti-drug competition at the national level as an achievement that transcended the student, his school and the association.
“This is a victory for Akwa Ibom State. It is a victory for our young people. And, most importantly, it is a victory for the fight against drug abuse,” he said.
He reiterated that sustainable progress in the fight against drug and substance abuse would require coordinated action, stronger institutional collaboration and continuous investment in prevention, education and community-based interventions.
Tony therefore urged all stakeholders to work together to protect young people from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and ensure that the fight against illicit substances becomes a sustained, collective responsibility rather than a series of isolated interventions.
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