NDLEA Calls on Nigerians to Use 24-Hour Helpline for Drug Addiction Support
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called on Nigerians struggling with drug dependence to seek professional help through its 24-hour counseling and referral service. The appeal was made by the Secretary of NDLEA, Shadrach Haruna, on Monday, June 22, during the commemoration of the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Haruna emphasized that professional support is available around the clock for individuals with drug use disorders. He urged families and friends of those battling addiction to also reach out to the NDLEA, stressing that recovery is possible with the right support and intervention.
Helpline Details and Multilingual Support
The agency’s helpline, 0800-1020-3040, known as the 247-Network, was established to ensure timely access to professional assistance. Haruna noted that anyone who calls the number will receive an instant response in their preferred language, including Pidgin English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, or formal English. “If you know anyone who is suffering from drug use disorder, NDLEA is there to support,” he said.
Trained social psychologists are available to provide counseling and refer callers to appropriate treatment and rehabilitation centers closest to them. According to Haruna, treatment and rehabilitation remain essential pillars of NDLEA’s balanced approach to drug control, alongside enforcement, prevention, and public enlightenment.
Innovative Approaches Including Faith-Based Partnerships
Haruna stated that the agency has adopted innovative approaches in tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking, including partnerships with faith-based organizations to strengthen prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts. He added that churches and other religious organizations have become critical stakeholders in the campaign against drug abuse due to their influence on families and communities.
“We involve and use a lot of innovative responses, and one of those responses is to use faith-based organisations, which of course include churches,” he explained. Beyond collaborating with the agency by reporting drug-related activities, faith-based organizations contribute significantly through counseling, moral teachings, and family-focused interventions. Haruna described families as the fulcrum of social development, adding that religious bodies provide a strategic platform for reaching homes and communities with anti-drug messages at the grassroots level.
