By Kelechi Obiajulu

As Nigeria continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, another crisis is quietly spreading across the country — a surge in substance abuse that experts are calling a “pandemic within a pandemic.” Lockdowns, economic hardship, and disrupted health services are driving more Nigerians, particularly young people, toward dangerous drug use.

One of the voices sounding the alarm is Aisha Isa, a public health advocate who is working with faith-based and community groups to reach vulnerable populations during this critical period. Through virtual outreach sessions, Isa is warning that the social and economic fallout of COVID-19 is fueling a rise in misuse of opioids, sedatives, and other substances.

“COVID-19 is not just a health emergency, it is also a social emergency,” Isa told Vanguard. “With hospitals focused on the virus and services shutting down, many people are turning to drugs to cope with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. What we are seeing is a crisis that runs parallel to the pandemic itself.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already reported that 60 percent of countries are experiencing disruptions to mental health and substance use services. In Nigeria, health officials estimate a 20 percent increase in drug misuse since the start of the pandemic. Substances such as tramadol, codeine cough syrups, cannabis, diazepam, and other sedatives are among the most abused.

Isa explains that pharmacies, while essential during this crisis, are under immense strain. With hospitals overwhelmed, pharmacies are now the most accessible point of care, but they are also vulnerable to misuse. “Pharmacists are doing their best, but without a monitoring system, medicines like opioids, benzodiazepines, and cough syrups are too easily diverted,” she said.

In response, Isa is focusing on community-centered solutions. By working with faith leaders and grassroots networks, she is helping to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and connect individuals with available support services. “Public health cannot be left to government alone,” she emphasized. “Communities must be at the center of the response.”

Experts caution that the consequences of this rise in drug misuse will not end when the pandemic does. Isa agrees, describing it as a “shadow pandemic” that demands urgent action. “If we do not act now, the damage will outlast COVID-19,” she warned. “We need stronger mental health services, prescription monitoring, and training for frontline providers to recognize and respond to misuse.”

Isa insists that the lessons of COVID-19 must not be ignored. “This is the time to act,” she told Vanguard. “Government must strengthen prescription monitoring, communities must break the silence around misuse, and every Nigerian must see substance abuse as a shared responsibility. If we come together now, we can prevent today’s crisis from becoming tomorrow’s catastrophe.”