CALABAR – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Cross River State Command, has raised alarm over the rising incidence of drug abuse among young people in the state, attributing the trend to peer pressure, unemployment, poverty, family instability, and the influence of social media NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
State Commander CN John Anteyi disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Calabar to mark the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Commander identified several factors driving substance abuse among youths, including peer pressure, unemployment and poverty, family instability, curiosity and experimentation, social media influence, easy access to drugs, cultism and gang activities, and academic and social pressures.
According to the NDLEA, the substances commonly abused in Cross River State include cannabis (marijuana), tramadol and other prescription opioids, codeine-based cough syrups, methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, cocaine, heroin, sedatives and tranquilizers, alcohol, tobacco products, and inhalants such as glue, petrol, and paint thinner.
Commander Anteyi expressed particular concern over the increasing trend of mixing multiple substances to achieve stronger intoxicating effects, warning that such practices significantly increase the risk of addiction, mental illness, overdose, and even death.
Between November 2025 and May 2026, the NDLEA arrested 262 drug offenders comprising 207 males and 55 females, seized over 6,575 kilogrammes of illicit substances, and destroyed 14 hectares of cannabis cultivation farms in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
The Commander warned that drug abuse destroys dreams, weakens families, fuels crime, and undermines development, stressing that no single agency can win the war alone. He called on families, schools, communities, religious institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to join forces in the fight against substance abuse.
“Say No to Drug Abuse. Say Yes to Life, Health, Security and Development,” Commander John declared.
