As the world marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking next Friday, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychological Services at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Omotayo Ajirotutu, has urged parents, schools and communities to recognise early signs of substance abuse among youths. In this interview with Sunday Ehigiator, he advocates early detection, mental health support and timely intervention. Excerpts:
Many drug abuse interventions seem to begin only after a person has developed a serious addiction. Why do you think society often waits until the rehabilitation stage before taking action?
One of the biggest challenges in addressing substance abuse is that society tends to focus on visible crises rather than early warning signs. Addiction often receives attention only when it begins to affect a person’s health, education, employment, relationships, or involvement with the law. At this point, the problem is difficult to ignore.
Unfortunately, preventive measures such as substance abuse advocacy, support, emotional education, parental guidance, and early screening programs often receive less investment because their benefits are not immediately visible. There is also a widespread misconception that experimentation is a normal phase that young people will naturally outgrow. As a result, opportunities for early intervention are missed. From a clinical perspective, substance abuse should be viewed as a public health issue that requires proactive prevention programmes and strategies. The most effective interventions should occur before dependency develops, not after significant psychological, social, and physical damage has already set in.
