Nigeria is battling a silent but deadly epidemic that is ravaging its youths and this is an escalating crisis of mental and psychological illnesses and imbalances which have been exacerbated by drug abuse that has largely remained in the shadows. From the streets of urban and rural settlements in Nigeria to secondary school classrooms and university campuses, young Nigerians, both male and female, are grappling and struggling with a surge in depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and suicide, often with little to no support.
Statistics paint a sad picture. The World Health Organization estimates that one in every five Nigerians suffers from a mental health disorder of some kind, and the burden is increasingly falling on the country’s youth. A study in Enugu State reported that 30.7 percent of secondary school students showed signs of depression, while 36.4 percent experienced anxiety disorders. Even more alarming, 8.4 percent of these students admitted to having suicidal thoughts. Among university students, similar patterns have emerged. Research conducted in southwestern Nigeria revealed that 14.9 percent of undergraduates experienced mild anxiety, 10.4 percent had moderate symptoms, and nearly two percent were severely anxious. Depression was also prevalent, with 16 percent of students ranging from mildly to severely affect.
However, poor mental health is only part of the equation. In recent years, Nigeria’s streets have been flooded with dangerous, foreign, local and sometimes home-brewed drugs that have become especially popular among teenagers, university students and young adults. Young people are abusing potent strains of cannabis, commonly referred to as “Canadian loud,” mpkuru miri which is an Igbo slang term for crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or simply meth, alongside concoctions such as “skushies,” a dangerous mixture of soft drinks or alcohol laced with cannabis, tramadol, codeine, and rohypnol. Others turn to “Colorado,” a synthetic cannabinoid known for triggering acute hallucinations and psychosis; “monkey tail,” a locally brewed mix of ogogoro (local gin) and cannabis or opioids such as “gutter water,” a murky cocktail of sedatives and narcotics; and “gegemu,” a fermented herbal substance that can be laced with psychoactive agents and and chemicals too numerous to identify.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that over 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 have used drugs, with cannabis being the most abused substance. In urban and semi-urban areas, around 20 percent of young people report having experimented with drugs, and over 10 percent are habitual users. Owing to the large population which Nigeria has, these statistics or percentages no matter how small point to a large number of individuals being identified as users and abusers of these psychoactive substances. These drugs have been linked to a growing wave of drug-induced psychosis, suicidal behavior, rape, imprisonment, physical assault, thuggery, truancy, academic decline, and violent outbursts, particularly among young users in secondary and tertiary institutions as well as on the streets in major cities, towns and villages around the country.
Despite the magnitude of the crisis, the country’s mental health infrastructure remains in poor state. The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) recently raised the alarm over the shortage of trained mental health professionals. According to APN President, Professor Taiwo Obindo, fewer than 200 psychiatrists are available to serve Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million. This is roughly a ratio of one psychiatrist to a million Nigerians. This is not acceptable and concrete steps have to be taken to reverse this trend. While speaking at the 55th annual conference of the association in Ilorin, Professor Taiwo Obindo, called the situation a national emergency and urged immediate government intervention. There is need to invest in education, infrastructure and remuneration in other to improve the statistics in this area. There is urgent need for the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) to work closely with the National Universities Commission, (NUC) to provide and expand accreditation and training of psychiatrists in Nigeria.
Amidst this scarcity, technology is emerging as a potential lifeline. One innovative effort is Awadoc, a digital health platform launched by renowned medical influencer Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor. Awadoc leverages WhatsApp and AI-powered tools to help users identify symptoms, consult licensed doctors, and access medications. Though primarily a general health platform, Awadoc is increasingly seen as a model for how telemedicine can address mental health needs, especially in underserved communities.
Other mental health specific platforms, such as MindMentor, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), and She Writes Woman’s Safe Place Nigeria, are also making significant strides. These initiatives offer virtual therapy, peer support, mental health education, and crisis intervention all accessible via smartphones. For many young Nigerians, especially those fearful of stigma or unable to afford therapy, such digital tools provide a private and empowering pathway to recovery. Yet these innovations are not without challenges. Many rural communities lack reliable internet access, and data costs remain prohibitive for many users. Moreover, there is no comprehensive national policy to scale these digital interventions, increase the awareness of people on the availability of these interventions or integrate them into school systems.
Experts emphasize that mental health awareness must begin at the grassroots. Schools and institutions at all levels must incorporate mental health education into their curricula, employ trained counselors, and establish support frameworks that enable early detection and response. At the same time, community leaders, religious institutions, parents, and youth organizations must be educated to recognize signs of distress and break the longstanding silence surrounding mental health.
The agencies of government especially the NDLEA – Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency – have been doing a good job but they must be encouraged to do more. This agency must be funded in other to equip them with better staff strength, vehicles and infrastructure for their service. There is the need to build and equip NDLEA with the right kind of laboratories and equipment to help them do an even better job. Customs and Immigration services should also be encouraged to put more effort to see to it that it becomes increasingly difficult to traffic these substances across our borders. The harm being caused by these psychoactive substances to our youths and society in general is enormous and cannot be ignored or even adequately quantified.
The mental well-being of Nigeria’s youth is too important to be ignored. With more than a third of students suffering from anxiety and depression, and nearly one in five engaged in dangerous substance use, the nation risks losing its most vital asset and its future. This is not just a health issue; it is a national security, education, and development crisis. This is the future of our dear country that substance abuse is threatening to erode.
Breaking the silence means investing in mental health care, regulating and outright blocking of access to dangerous substances, scaling digital innovations, and dismantling the stigma that still surrounds these issues. The time for action is now. Silence, in the face of such a devastating epidemic, is no longer an option.
*Umezurike Emeka Taye (PhD.), a medical microbiologist and public health researcher, writes from Lead City University, Ibadan