Nigeria TV Info – Over 233,000 Youths Involved in Drug Abuse in Rivers State, Says Commissioner

Port Harcourt, Nigeria (October 26, 2025) – The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chidinma Oreh, has raised alarm over the growing rate of drug and substance abuse among young people in the State, revealing that no fewer than 233,000 youths are currently involved in drug abuse.

Dr. Oreh made this known during the Regional Level Multi-Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Drug Abuse Prevention in the Niger Delta, held in Port Harcourt on Saturday. She was represented at the event by Quanta Roland.

Citing a 2019 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, the Commissioner disclosed that out of every 10 drug abusers in Rivers and across the South-South region, four are women, adding that 16.6% of youths in the region are affected by the menace.

> “According to the United Nations statistics from 2019, the prevalence of substance use in the South-South geopolitical zone among people aged 15 to 64 is increasingly worrisome. Alcohol, marijuana, and heroin are the most commonly used substances, with prevalence rates of 35.1%, 15.7%, and 15.3% respectively,” she said.

Dr. Oreh further revealed that the report shows varying prevalence rates across the South-South states:

Akwa Ibom State: 12.5% (approx. 352,000 individuals)

Bayelsa State: 11.2% (approx. 220,000 individuals)

Delta State: 18% (approx. 513,000 individuals)

Edo State: 15% (approx. 330,000 individuals)

Rivers State: 11.8% (approx. 233,000 individuals)

She stressed the urgent need for multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing drug abuse in the Niger Delta, calling for stronger community engagement, awareness campaigns, and youth empowerment initiatives to reduce the rising trend.