Exploring an alternative drug response in Nigeria

Youth RISE had a busy few weeks in Nigeria in September engaging with government agencies, local civil society organisations and the drug user community to continue and strengthen our work in the region. The data that exists in Nigeria indicates an increasing availability and use of drugs amongst young people across the country. Policies remain punitive, criminalising young people for use rather than addressing the health consequences and underlying causes of drug use. Health services for people who use drugs are severely limited. Within the community, we were told of the vast array of drugs injected or taken in other forms- from codeine to ketamine, heroin to crack, and other methods such as extracting and drinking poison from frogs. Despite clear evidence of need, harm reduction programs remain non-existent.

Youth RISE recently supported Communications 4 Social Change to develop a documentary aiming to bring some of these issues to the fore. A media roundtable to launch the documentary was held last week, attended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Human Rights Commission, NGOs, young people, and journalists.

You can read the full blog post here.

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