Prof. Aishatu Gobir of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) says she is worried about the rising cases of drug use among adolescents in schools.

Gobir said this in her paper presentation at the 219th Inaugural Lecture of the University entitled: “Child Survival: Obstacle and Opportunities Through the Eyes of a Paediatrician in Practice and Research.”

She said that a recent community survey among adolescents in Ilorin found the prevalence of drug use to be about 43.4 per cent, with the appearance of codeine-containing cough syrup and tramadol.

The don who teaches in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences of the University disclosed that currently, the use of drugs in society includes sniffing agents, amphetamines, cigarettes, cocaine and cannabis.

The Paediatrician explained that there was an epidemic of psychoactive substance use among adolescents, though the figures vary in different countries and localities.

According to her, the lifetime prevalence in Nigeria ranges from 57.2 per cent to 87.3 per cent.

“These figures show that the issue of drug abuse among adolescents has exploded to about 7 to 10 times what it was about a decade and a half ago.

“The list of abused drugs has also elongated with many narcotics and increasing intravenous drugs in use, as well as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, codeine and tramadol,” she said.

She attributed such rising cases to peer pressure, desire to experiment, family discord, single parenthood, sibling and parental drug use and poor educational achievements.

Gobir warned that such misdemeanours could lead to problems with relationships within and outside the family, psychosis, depression, poor school, performance, school dropout, violence and unprotected sexual activity and HIV/AIDS.

She pointed out that children from the upper socioeconomic class had been found to have higher levels of drug use in the country, with males using it more than females.

The Paediatrician, therefore, advocated a branch of study that would focus more on the needs of adolescents.

She added that if fully established, those interested in the care of adolescents could spend 18 months learning about how to care for them.

“It is a field that requires all medical specialists and others who are particularly patient and passionate on the issue of the adolescent,” she said.