Kaduna: The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Retired Brigadier General Mohammed Marwa, has emphasized that families are the first line of defense in preventing drug abuse among young people. Marwa highlighted the significance of early detection, discipline, and a supportive home environment in shielding children from addiction and its devastating outcomes.
According to Voice of Nigeria, while delivering a lecture on ‘Drug Abuse Management and National Security: The Role of the Family Unit’ at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna, during Exercise Haske Biyu, the NDLEA chief warned that the fight against drug abuse cannot be left to government and security agencies alone. Represented by the Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Mohammed Shehu, Marwa urged families to take responsibility for monitoring their children, as they are best positioned to notice early warning signs of risky behavior.
He pointed out indicators such as secrecy, withdrawal from loved ones, unexplained financial demands, and declining academic performance as subtle signals that a young person may be experimenting with drugs. “Early detection is key. When Parents act swiftly, they can prevent experimentation from escalating into full-blown addiction,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA Chairman also advised adults against using cigarettes and alcohol in the presence of children, describing it as “a dangerous perception of acceptance.” He explained that when such behaviors are normalized at home, children might believe it is acceptable to progress from smoking and drinking to more dangerous acts like burglary, cybercrime, and armed robbery.
Marwa underscored the availability of simple drug testing tools that enable parents to discreetly check for substance use within the household. These tools, he mentioned, “can help families intervene early, before a child’s curiosity or experimentation develops into dependence or even criminal tendencies.”
Citing examples, Marwa expressed concern over cases brought to the agency involving young girls already battling HIV and mental health challenges due to prolonged drug use. He argued that such tragedies could have been avoided if families had intervened earlier with discipline, counseling, and rehabilitation support.
The NDLEA chief stressed that addiction is not a destiny and urged parents to combine love with firm discipline, build attentive homes that shield children from peer pressure, and support rehabilitation for those already affected. “Families that embrace their role as moral guides and protectors provide the strongest safeguard against drug abuse and its security implications for the nation,” Marwa concluded.