The Influence of Nigerian Culture on Drug Use and Mental Health: Cultural Attitudes and Their Impact

Nigeria is a country rich in culture, traditions, and values that shape the lives of its people. From how we celebrate, mourn, and connect to one another, Nigerian culture plays a significant role in our daily lives. However, when it comes to sensitive issues like drug use and mental health, cultural attitudes can deeply influence how individuals experience and address these challenges. While culture can provide strength and community support, it can also create barriers to seeking help. Let’s explore how Nigerian culture impacts drug use and mental health, and how these attitudes shape both the problem and the solutions.

Cultural Silence and Stigma Around Mental Health
In many parts of Nigeria, mental health issues are still viewed with suspicion, stigma, and even fear. There is a lingering belief that mental illness is a sign of weakness or spiritual punishment. Some even believe that mental disorders are caused by witchcraft or the anger of the gods. This cultural perspective makes it incredibly difficult for people to speak openly about their mental health struggles or seek professional help.

As a result, many individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, or more severe mental health conditions choose to suffer in silence, avoiding the judgment and isolation that can come with being labeled as “mad” or “possessed.” Families may be reluctant to acknowledge the mental health challenges of a loved one, opting instead to rely on religious or traditional healers rather than modern medical treatments.

This silence is damaging. By not openly discussing mental health, people who need help don’t receive it. This delay in seeking treatment can worsen the individual’s condition and lead to further mental health deterioration.

The Role of Drugs as a Coping Mechanism
Cultural attitudes also play a significant role in how Nigerians deal with stress, hardship, and emotional struggles. For many, especially in urban areas facing high unemployment, economic hardship, and social pressure, drug use becomes a coping mechanism. Substances like cannabis, alcohol, and prescription drugs like codeine and tramadol are used to “numb the pain” of daily struggles.

What makes it more complex is that drug use often carries a dual narrative within Nigerian culture. On one hand, drug addiction is heavily stigmatized, seen as a moral failing or the result of poor character. On the other hand, substances like alcohol are normalized in social settings. Young people, in particular, are often exposed to parties, gatherings, and celebrations where alcohol use is common and even encouraged. For some, this begins a dangerous journey toward dependency.

Moreover, drug use among youths is often seen as a rite of passage or a symbol of modernity and freedom. In some circles, taking drugs is equated with rebellion against the strict cultural norms of older generations. This complicated mix of acceptance, secrecy, and stigma makes it difficult to have open conversations about the risks and dangers of drug abuse.

The Pressure to Conform
Cultural expectations in Nigeria, especially around gender roles, success, and societal status, also contribute to the mental health challenges that individuals face. In a society where there is immense pressure to succeed, particularly for men, failing to live up to these expectations can lead to feelings of inadequacy, depression, and anxiety.

For women, cultural norms can also restrict how they are expected to behave, leading to mental health struggles. Issues like domestic violence, societal pressure to marry and bear children, or the stress of balancing family and career can lead to a buildup of emotional strain, but talking openly about these issues is often frowned upon.

The burden of these expectations can drive people to seek out unhealthy coping mechanisms, including drug use. Without open channels to discuss mental health, many Nigerians turn to substances in secret, which only deepens the problem.

Cultural Solutions: Community and Religion
Despite the challenges that culture can present, there are also aspects of Nigerian culture that can serve as powerful tools for mental health and addiction recovery. One of these is the strength of community. In Nigerian society, family and extended community play a central role in an individual’s life. When used positively, this community can provide emotional support, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging that can help individuals facing mental health or addiction issues.

Religious institutions also play a large part in Nigerian culture. Many turn to their faith leaders for guidance during times of emotional or mental struggle. While this can sometimes create barriers to accessing medical treatment (if mental illness is viewed only through a spiritual lens), churches, mosques, and traditional religious institutions can also be key players in spreading awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and drug use.

Moving Forward: Changing Attitudes for Better Mental Health
To truly address the mental health and drug use challenges in Nigeria, cultural attitudes must shift toward openness and understanding. Mental health education should be integrated into schools, churches, and communities. The idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness must be dismantled, and new narratives about strength through vulnerability and recovery should be promoted.

Similarly, drug abuse prevention must be addressed through both cultural and practical lenses. Campaigns that focus on raising awareness of the dangers of drug use, coupled with programs offering employment opportunities, mental health support, and community engagement, can help steer at-risk youths away from addiction.

Nigeria has a vibrant, resilient culture that, when harnessed properly, can be a powerful force in overcoming the stigma surrounding mental health and drug use. By shifting our attitudes, starting conversations, and offering support rather than judgment, we can create a society where people feel safe to seek help and begin their journey toward healing.—

Written by Damilola Amire, Mental Health Therapist and Addiction Counselor.