Responding to substance use problems in Nigeria: The role of civil society organizations

This descriptive study assesses the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in drug demand reduction (DDR) in Nigeria. Sixty-two respondents, representing 45 organizations, participated in the survey in 2001. Most respondents were people with university education, and many were trained in health-related fields. A large majority (84%) were active in prevention work and 63% of them were engaged in research. Survey respondents reported that they were faced with many challenges in their work as DDR practitioners. These included poor funding or lack of it and inadequate information on drugs. Many also expressed the need for drug policy reforms in the country and an interest in further training in different areas of DDR. This article argues that a well-coordinated civil society participation is necessary in the control of drug problems in Nigeria. This goal can only be achieved in an environment where drug policy strikes a reasonable balance between supply and demand reduction efforts and, consequently, where support for DDR is seen as an integral part of drug control initiatives.