ISSUP Nigeria joined the global community on June 26 to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, under the theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”

Across the country, members of ISSUP Nigeria were actively involved in a range of activities, reaching young people in schools, engaging policymakers, raising awareness in local communities, and sharing prevention messages through media and online platforms.

From student-led campaigns in Oyo State and community sensitisation walks in Lagos state, to high-level advocacy events in Niger State and...

This week, we say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor, Jeff Lee, the founding Executive Director of ISSUP. Jeff was a steadfast advocate for the professionalization of prevention, insisting that those working in this field should be appropriately specialized. He often reminded us that while generalists and treatment specialists are well-meaning and deeply embedded within their communities, they are not always best placed to develop and implement evidence-based prevention systems. Jeff emphasized that prevention must be treated as a distinct science—one that is grounded in rigorous research...

The African Union Commission (AUC) has held an annual continental consultation for Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) since 2015.  AUC member states are each represented by their respective DDR national focal points, allowing member states an opportunity to present national DDR activities in a peer-review platform that also allows engagement with invited subject matter experts.  This year’s consultation was held in Arusha, Tanzania from 10-13 December 2024, and included Traditional Leaders from Southern Africa. The theme for this year’s consultation was “Prevention is better than Cure: Towards...

The 6th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of ISSUP Nigeria was held under the theme "Strengthening Family Support Systems for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery."  

This year’s meeting emphasized the critical role of families in addressing substance use disorders. Experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across Nigeria gathered to discuss strategies for enhancing family involvement in prevention, effective treatment approaches, and sustained recovery for individuals struggling with substance use.  

The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange...