NAFDAC warns against drug misuse, self-medication

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has stressed the urgent need for the rational use of medicines as a key strategy for improving patient safety and strengthening public health outcomes in Nigeria. Speaking at a sensitisation programme held in Mushin, Lagos, on Wednesday, the Director of Pharmacovigilance at NAFDAC, Uchenna Elemuwa, who represented the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that the misuse of medicines poses serious health risks. She said, “Medicines save lives, reduce suffering, prevent complications, and improve quality of life. However, when medicines are misused, overused, underused, or improperly prescribed, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening.” Elemuwa noted that irrational use of medicines remains a global public health challenge, citing practices such as self-medication, antibiotic abuse, incorrect dosing, and the use of counterfeit drugs as major concerns. According to her, “These practices contribute significantly to treatment failure, adverse drug reactions, prolonged illness, increased healthcare costs, disability, and avoidable deaths.” She further highlighted antimicrobial resistance as one of the gravest consequences of irrational medicine use. “The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have accelerated the emergence of resistant microorganisms. This means infections that were once easily treatable are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to manage,” he said. The NAFDAC official emphasised the importance of pharmacovigilance, describing it as the science of detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse drug effects. “No medicine is completely free from side effects. However, through effective pharmacovigilance systems, harmful reactions can be identified early and necessary actions taken to protect the public,” she added. Related News Sanwo-Olu orders immediate evacuation of waste across Lagos LASG intensifies HIV awareness campaign for PWDs Shielding Nigeria from Ebola Elemuwa urged healthcare professionals and members of the public to actively report adverse drug reactions, noting that “a single adverse drug reaction report can save thousands of lives.” She also called for collective responsibility among stakeholders, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and patients, in ensuring safe medicine use. “Patient safety begins with the rational use of medicines. Medicines are meant to heal, not harm,” she stated. In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Aruwe, said the programme was aimed at promoting medication safety and improvi