In a groundbreaking initiative, researchers at the National Research University Higher
School of Economics in Moscow have developed a sophisticated news analytical system
to address Nigeria’s pervasive drug abuse issue. Mutiu Iyanda Lasisi and Mustapha
Adeniyi Adeitan, master students in Critical Media Studies, and Population and
Development, conducted an extensive media analysis from 2016 to 2020, unraveling
stakeholder concerns surrounding illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse.
The duo not only presented descriptive findings but also engineered a comprehensive
news analytical system with dual components. The first component focuses on
stakeholders’ concerns and the specific narcotics mentioned, quantifying these issues for
precise interventions. The second component integrates intervention programs tied to
stakeholder roles and city-specific initiatives, all subject to regular monitoring and
reviews for heightened effectiveness.
Initiating with control agencies, security bodies, government entities, NGOs, and others,
the system centers on identifying concerns related to drug abuse and the narcotics
involved. This information becomes a focal point for parents and guardians to
collaboratively address the highlighted concerns, employing strategies for prevention
and support.
Four pivotal intervention programs emerge from this strategy – the Social Welfare
Programme (SWP), the Public Awareness Campaign (PAC), Law Reforms (LR), and the
Health Education Initiative (HEI). Operating in sequence, they propose a
comprehensive approach to combat drug abuse, starting with establishing social welfare
support systems (SWP), followed by public awareness campaigns (PAC), potential
legislative reforms (LR), and concluding with health education initiatives (HEI).
Mutiu Lasisi, the lead researcher, notes that crucially, these interventions can be
implemented jointly, especially in complex locations where individual strategies may fall
short. The success of this transformative approach hinges on an integrated,
collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders, emphasizing problem
identification, strategic implementation, and a nuanced understanding of local
circumstances. The researchers’ proposed system stands as a robust strategy framework,
signaling hope for a concerted and effective battle against drug abuse in Nigeria.
“Our intention is to expand the product by developing a mobile app that will assist state
and non-state actors in addressing the problem in real time, leveraging daily media
coverage of the issue. This will remove the delay in obtaining relevant data for making
informed decisions on the control and containment of illegal drug flows and abuse in
Nigeria,” Mustapha Adeitan added.