How to spot early drug use in young people — the behavioural, physical, and academic signals that matter most, and what to do when you see them.
When someone you care about is using drugs, the instinct to help can easily make things worse. This practical guide tells you what actually works — and what doesn't.
Peer pressure around drug use is real — and the standard 'just say no' advice doesn't work. These are evidence-based refusal techniques that actually hold up in real social situations.
Test your awareness
Knowledge is one thing — knowing where you stand is another. Take the free 20-question challenge.
🧠 Take the Challenge — FreeCatching drug abuse early is one of the most effective things an adult can do for a young person. Research consistently shows that early intervention — before dependency is established — dramatically improves long-term outcomes. But early intervention requires early recognition.
This guide is written specifically for Nigerian parents, guardians, and teachers who want to know what to look for — and what to do.
Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that the majority of people living with substance use disorders in Nigeria are between the ages of 15 and 35. Several factors drive this:
The first line of defence is an informed adult who can notice change without catastrophising.
Changes in behaviour are often the most visible early indicators. Look for patterns of change, not isolated incidents.
Physical signs are often more concrete but may appear later in the process.
Eyes and face:
Body:
Smell and appearance:
The pattern with methamphetamine is one of the most distinctive: days of hyperactivity and sleeplessness followed by a "crash" of prolonged sleep and severe depression. Physical deterioration happens quickly — weight loss, dental damage, and skin problems may appear within weeks of regular use.
Users often appear "functional" — tramadol gives energy and suppresses appetite. Look for changes in appetite, unusual endurance for manual tasks, and mood volatility. Seizures in otherwise healthy young men are a late-stage emergency sign.
Sedation and slowed speech are common indicators. Users often appear drowsy even when supposedly alert, mix unusual drinks (codeine is typically consumed with soft drinks), and may have persistent constipation.
An accusatory confrontation will almost certainly cause the young person to shut down and conceal behaviour more effectively. Your goal at first contact is to keep the line of communication open.
Choose a calm, private moment. Use "I" statements: "I've noticed that you seem tired all the time lately and I'm worried. What's going on?" Rather than accusations, express concern and curiosity.
If the signs are clear, or the young person admits to use, involve a professional counsellor or medical practitioner as quickly as possible. Earlier professional support dramatically reduces the likelihood of dependency developing.
ALTDAP's Resources page lists verified rehabilitation centres and counselling services across Nigeria, searchable by state — free to access, no account required.
Parents and teachers often hesitate because they don't want to be wrong. But early intervention when signs are present is far less harmful than delayed intervention when dependency is established. Acting on concern — even if the concern turns out to be about something else — opens a conversation that may prevent problems regardless.
Recognition of warning signs matters — but prevention matters more.
Young people who have accurate, specific knowledge about what substances actually do are statistically less likely to try them. Not because of fear, but because they can make an informed choice.
ALTDAP's Awareness Challenge gives students a 20-question baseline of their current knowledge. Teachers and parents can take it alongside their students as a conversation-starter. No data is collected. No account is needed.
