Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are gateways to drug abuse, NDLEA warns youths

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are gateways to drug abuse and addiction.

Ugochukwu Emeka, a chief superintendent of narcotics at the NDLEA, spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at an event organised by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Mathias Aliu, councillor representing Wuse ward.

Emeka said the aforementioned substances are socially acceptable, but if abused could lead to full blown drug addiction and abuse

The NDLEA official said some people who start out by taking alcohol end up taking stronger opioids.

“Caffeine is acceptable. Nicotine is acceptable in society, but hear me out, they are the starting points. These socially acceptable drugs are divided into three, they are alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine,” she said.

“Let me tell you alcohol is a drug, the WHO, google it, annually it [substances] takes three million deaths, 2.6 million is alcohol while 0.6 is other drugs.

“Alcohol is a depressant. It depresses your central nervous system. It is the starting point of every depressant.

“We are talking about the gateway drugs, we must stay away from the gateway drugs.”

Earlier, Aliu said the campaign is a call to action in an effort to sanitise “our communities”.

“We have lost great lives to drug addiction. I want us to work towards having a future not dependent on drugs,” the councillor said.

Also speaking, Nasir Usman, AMAC’s vice-chair, said drug abuse and addiction to substances are “complex issues” affecting individuals and communities.

“Everyone seated here has a key role to play,” Usman said.

“If you have a friend that is a user, you should help them, counsel them. Drug abuse is fast spreading, let us do everything to keep our streets safe.”