The Nigerian law on family addiction prevention: challenges and way forward

Abstract

Background: Addiction is one of the most serious menaces affecting the world population today. In recent time, it has started eating deeply into the bedrock of the society (i.e., the family) from which every addict comes. There are many laws, at the state, regional and international level, yet, what has been a surprise to many is that in spite of the multiplicity of various legislations at all levels of governance, such efforts have neither translated to reduction of addiction in the society , nor to the elimination of the scourge. In this paper, we shall explore some of these legal regimes to see how effective these laws are, some challenges in some of their provisions and enforcement. The paper provides some suggestions that would provide a way forward for their effectiveness in curbing the menace of all forms of addictions in our society.

Methods: The method of research here is doctrinaire, which necessitate exploring some of the relevant available literature on the topic, the statutes applicable and court cases (where available). are also examined.

Results: The result shows that prevention of addiction at the family level is not getting the attention it deserves. One of the problems identified is that some provisions in some statutes (that has something to do with the family i.e., the Child Right Act (CRA), Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) etc., can be problematic. The morality which some of the laws tend to promote is secular as they allow some drugs or substances of abuse to be regarded as licit, which goes against the religious and custom of larger members of the society. This position as well constitutes a barrier to fighting all forms of addiction or the process of eradicating them altogether within the family and the society at large.

Conclusion: There are surely many legislations on prevention of addiction at the family level, but it suffers from being effective due to the uneasy contradiction inherent in the law itself on one hand, and poor mechanism of enforcement of the available legislation on the other hand. The country, or the world at large, needs not to dwell much in excessive proliferation of law, rather, what is required is to enforce the needful one.

Key words: Addiction, family, substance abuse, legislation, menace, prevention.