The Federal Government has introduced stringent new measures to combat drug and substance abuse in secondary schools, including mandatory drug testing for students and temporary suspension for those who repeatedly test positive after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation procedures.
Under the new policy, all newly admitted students in secondary schools will be subjected to compulsory drug integrity tests at the point of entry. The measures are contained in the National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria for secondary schools.
The guideline states that “all new students or learners shall be subjected to drug tests and other measures approved by the schools or learning centres at the point of entry,” adding that the process must be carried out in collaboration with approved federal or state health facilities and procedures.
In addition to entry-level screening, schools are expected to conduct periodic and impromptu drug tests for both new and returning students at least once every academic session.
The policy prohibits students from using or possessing narcotic drugs, controlled substances, or other drugs of abuse without authorisation from school authorities.
The policy establishes a three-stage testing and intervention process for students who test positive. Students who fail the first test will undergo counselling and initial treatment. Those who test positive a second time will be referred to professionals for further treatment. For students who continue to test positive after a third round, the policy provides that they may be temporarily suspended from the school environment to take treatment from a professional and undergo rehabilitation.
The policy also introduces mandatory pre-test and post-test counselling for students undergoing screening. To enforce compliance, every school is expected to establish a disciplinary committee headed by the school administrator.
The development comes amid growing concerns over increasing cases of drug and substance abuse among adolescents in Nigeria, with education and health stakeholders warning about its impact on academic performance, discipline, mental health, and security within schools.
