The Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at curbing substance misuse and promoting mental health as a fundamental human right.
The campaign was officially unveiled on Wednesday, July 2, during the BOF-PSN’s 7th Public Lecture in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, where top-ranking officials, including Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, pledged strong institutional support.
Delivering the keynote announcement, National Chairman of BOF-PSN, Pharm. Uchenna Uzoma Apakama, declared that the campaign would be taken to “the nooks and crannies of Nigeria” to sensitize citizens on the dangers of substance abuse and its far-reaching societal impacts.
According to Apakama, “Under my leadership, BOF will work tirelessly to bring drug abuse awareness to every citizen, ensuring they understand the consequences of misuse.”
Emphasizing the central role of pharmacists in the drug war, Brig. Gen. Marwa, who was a special guest of honour, noted that Nigeria’s substance abuse problem requires a multi-sectoral, holistic approach.
“Behind every drug user is a family in distress,” he warned. “Pharmacists are critical in the fight, both as gatekeepers of controlled substances and as mental health advocates.”
Marwa lauded the BOF-PSN’s timing, stressing that the intersection between drug abuse and mental illness poses a significant threat to national development. He also praised the recent enactment of the Pharmacists Council Bill Act of 2023 as a positive step toward reforming the retail drug sector.
Echoing Marwa’s sentiments, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa highlighted the psychological consequences of substance abuse and called for pharmacists’ involvement in detecting counterfeit drugs. He cited the Lagos State Mental Health Law of 2018 as a policy blueprint for integrated care.
“Untreated mental health conditions destabilize families and communities,” Obasa said. “Access to mental healthcare must be a right, not a privilege.”
The lecture, themed Mental Health as a Basic Human Right: Crucial to Personal, Community, and Socio-Economic Development, drew an array of key stakeholders in public health and pharmaceutical care. These included PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim; NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye (represented by Dr. Rametu Momodu); past PSN President, Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa; and heads of major pharmaceutical associations across Nigeria.
Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, a consultant psychiatrist and the keynote speaker, urged Nigerians to break the stigma around mental health and embrace open conversations.
“The good news is that we all have mental health. We’re all on a continuum,” she said. “Depending on our support systems, we can thrive, or we can struggle. Awareness and empathy are key.”
Abiri stressed that mental health cannot be separated from substance abuse, calling for a systemic overhaul of how the country approaches mental wellbeing, especially for vulnerable populations.
The BOF-PSN campaign is expected to roll out in phases across all geopolitical zones, targeting schools, communities, and health institutions with educational materials, outreach programs, and partnerships with law enforcement and civil society.
Wednesday’s event marked a turning point in the pharmacy profession’s commitment to tackling one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health crises. With strong endorsements from the NDLEA and state legislative leadership, the BOF-PSN initiative is being hailed as a model for collaborative, preventive public health action.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising rates of drug dependency and its toll on youth, families, and the economy, stakeholders at the event underscored one resounding message: addressing drug abuse begins with awareness, and sustaining awareness begins with united action.
