The Real Face of Substance Addiction Featuring Abraham Okodugha | Clean Beat 91.5FM Abuja

Substance abuse is destroying lives, families, dreams and futures. On this powerful, emotionally raw, and painfully real episode of the Clean Drive Show on Clean Beat 91.5FM Abuja, we sit with a former drug addict Abraham Okodugha who battled with Pentazocine injections and substance addiction which left his hands and legs severely damaged before dedicating his life to rehabilitation and helping others recover. Abraham shares very shocking personal stories about addiction, dependency, pain, recovery, relapse, mental struggles, family impact and the dangerous reality many young people are facing today. Coinciding with World Drug Day celebrations, Abraham pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of substance abuse in Nigeria. He opens up about the childhood trauma that left him vulnerable, his introduction to drugs during his university days at UniPort, and how a severe battle with physical pain eventually led to an intense addiction to the prescription painkiller Pentazocine. Abraham details the devastating toll addiction took on his life—losing a promising job in an oil company, battling severe physical decay, surviving multiple suicide attempts, and experiencing homelessness. He shares the turning point that saved his life: reaching out to the NDLEA's toll-free helpline, finding an accountability partner in his pastor, and choosing the path of forgiveness and rehabilitation. Now nearly 5 years clean, Abraham has turned his pain into purpose. As an advocate and counselor, he is calling on communities to join the fight against drug abuse, focusing on reducing the demand and protecting young children from predatory dealers. Topics covered in this interview: Abraham’s early background as a stylist and university student - 01:07 The childhood trauma and roots of vulnerability - 04:23 University life, low self-esteem, and peer influence - 06:13 Transitioning from recreational drug use to severe prescription drug addiction - 11:56 The devastating physical side effects of Pentazocine abuse - 22:00 Surviving rock bottom, homelessness, and suicide attempts - 24:44 Reaching out to the NDLEA toll-free help line and finding a support system - 30:21 Abraham's current advocacy work, counselling families, and upcoming campus awareness tours - 38:12 Need Help? If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction in Nigeria, please reach out for free, confidential support. 📞 NDLEA Toll-Free Helpline: 0800 1020 3400 (Note: Verified standard line format) This is not a conversation based on opinions. These are real experiences from people who have lived through the consequences. If you think drug abuse cannot happen to someone close to you, watch this episode. What do you think is driving the rise of drug abuse among young people today? Drop your thoughts in the comments. _________________________________________________________ Connect with Abraham Okodugha: Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for his daily live streams at 8:00 PM where he builds a community to support those fighting addiction. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Clean Beat 91.5FM Abuja for more impactful conversations.