NAFDAC Launches Youth-Focused Alcohol Prevention Campaign
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is levelling up its efforts to prevent harm from alcohol and other drugs among students in Nigeria, reports Guardian Newspapers. At the “Catch-Them-Young” inauguration of the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) held at Ajibode High School in Oyo State, NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that alcohol use among adolescents can cause death, mental health disorders, and severely impact academic, emotional, and social development.
The campaign, themed “Your Future Counts! Say No to Illicit Drugs and Yes to Life,” aims to foster a future generation free from alcohol-related harm. Prof. Adeyeye, represented by Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, emphasised that starting alcohol use at a young age increases the risk of addiction, health impairments, and family instability. Quoted in the Guardian Newspapers, she warned that alcohol use erodes the nation’s workforce and drains Nigeria’s economy, posing a serious threat to the country’s governance and future.
It is time you, as young Nigerians, realised that this alcohol [harm] is destroying families, the workforce, and destabilising our economy. All these pose a great threat to the future of good governance in Nigeria.”
Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, on behalf of Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, NAFDAC
The Urgent Need for Youth Alcohol Prevention
Professor Adeyeye, cited in the Guardian Newspapers, outlined the negative consequences of alcohol use and other drug consumption among teenagers. In fact, alcohol use is a risk factor for other drug dependence, risky sexual behaviour, worsening school performance, and mental health disorders.
Health impacts include serious impairments, illnesses, and even death. For example, long-term use can damage vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Cognitive functions such as memory, learning, problem-solving, and concentration also suffer, with a heightened risk of psychosis, including schizophrenia, hallucinations, and paranoia.
The NAFDAC’s “Catch-Them-Young” initiative is a coordinated, school-based strategy specifically designed to reduce the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use among secondary school students. The programme focuses on honest conversations to empower students to make “informed decisions” about their health and their futures. Students are encouraged to become agents of change, helping to disseminate information about NAFDAC’s regulatory activities and to lead alcohol prevention efforts in their communities.
Why Immediate Action on Alcohol Prevention Matters
The concerns raised by NAFDAC align closely with findings from Movendi International‘s Resource Center.
Research shows that alcohol use among Nigerian university students is a rising problem.
For instance, 31.4% of Nigerian university students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days. Alarmingly, 14.6% of these students engaged in high-risk alcohol consumption patterns, including heavy use and dependence.
The study further highlights that alcohol consumption rates among female students are now matching those of male students, reflecting a shift in traditional patterns and indicating the increasing normalisation of alcohol use across all demographics.
Furthermore, mental health factors are closely intertwined with alcohol use. A study reveals that students experiencing depression or lacking a clear sense of life purpose reported significantly higher alcohol use rates. This emphasises the critical need for integrated alcohol prevention and mental health support programmes.
Comprehensive Alcohol Policies Are Urgently Needed
Nigeria currently lacks a comprehensive national alcohol policy, exposing young people to unchecked alcohol marketing and easy and wide availability of cheap alcohol. Movendi International has stressed that evidence-based solutions, including alcohol taxation, banning youth-targeted alcohol advertising, and launching nationwide public awareness campaigns, are essential steps toward safeguarding the future.
NAFDAC has taken commendable steps, such as moving to ban alcohol sold in sachets and small PET bottles to reduce the availability of cheap alcoholic products, especially among youth. These measures are vital components of a broader alcohol policy framework that protects young Nigerians from avoidable harm.
A Collective Effort for a Healthier Future
During the event, Mrs. Ayombo Ogunyemi, NAFDAC’s Assistant Chief Regulator Officer, called on students to resist peer pressure and commit to avoiding harmful substances, reports Guardian Newspapers. Mr. Samuel Adeyemi, State Coordinator of NAFDAC, emphasised that parents, teachers, and students each have important roles to play in curbing alcohol and substance use.
The principal of Ajibode High School, Mrs. Oyepeju Adedeji, expressed gratitude to NAFDAC and pledged the school’s commitment to sustaining alcohol prevention activities.
The initiative to protect among young Nigerians from alcohol harm is an endeavor for the future of Nigeria. With ambitious, evidence-based prevention programmes and the support of agencies such as NAFDAC and organisations like Movendi International, Nigeria can create health promoting environments for the youth to thrive.