The Kaduna government has decentralised mental health services, now accessible at primary health care centres across the state.

Joseph Ike, the director-general of the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA), announced this on Monday in an interview in Kaduna.

Mr Ike said the development aligns with World Health Organisation recommendations to address mental health gaps and reflects Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to lead this effort, as shown by the agency’s establishment.

According to Mr Ike, research has shown that one out of four people would have some mental challenges before they die. That’s how common it is.

“We also know that one out of eight people has an active health challenge.  But where the challenge really lies is that 85 per cent of people who need mental health treatment do not have access to care. It’s really a national crisis,”  Mr Ike said.

Mr Ike noted that moving mental health services from psychiatric hospitals to general hospitals and PHCs in Kaduna would help people detect problems early and bring services closer to the people.

On drug abuse, Mr Ike said the Kaduna government has drug rehabilitation centres with connections to some PHCs.

“One of our centres has managed over 200 people since inception in 2024. Governor Uba Sani made it clear to us that our focus should not be on treatment but on strengthening prevention for maximum results in reducing the menace.

“To do that, we have centres in seven local governments. These centres focus on children and adolescents with teaching and life skills training to prevent them from the onset of drug abuse,” he said.

He said the agency would launch a programme called ‘Mental Health in Schools’ to address and identify some of the underlying factors that lead to developing mental health issues and drug abuse.

The mental public health administrator also said Kaduna State has implemented a comprehensive alternatives to incarceration programme in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

“This revolutionary programme diverts individuals who commit non-violent, minor offences due to a substance use disorder away from the criminal justice system and into mandatory treatment. This compassionate and pragmatic approach addresses the root cause of criminal behaviour, breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration,” he said.

Commenting on the alarming rate of drug abuse in Nigeria, Mr Ike said a 2018 survey showed that one out of seven people used drugs, adding that the gap between men and women is closing up.

While noting that the issues around drugs are more common than that every household in Nigeria is affected one way or the other, Mr Ike said more disturbing was that most people with drug problems do not have access to treatment, including those who want access to treatment.

(NAN)