Nigerian actress and evangelist Tonto Dikeh has urged Nigerians struggling with emotional pain, addiction or substance use to reject drugs as a means of coping with difficult experiences.
Dikeh drew from personal experience as she warned that substance use does not eliminate the underlying pain people may be attempting to escape.
“I’ve been down this dark road, and I can tell you firsthand that substances don’t make the pain go away,” she said in a message urging Nigerians to say no to drugs.
Her intervention adds the voice of a prominent entertainment figure to Nigeria’s continuing public-health campaign against drug abuse, particularly among young people.
The issue has remained a major concern for health authorities and anti-drug agencies, with substance misuse linked to a range of physical, psychological and social consequences.
Dikeh’s message centres on the argument that temporary relief from substances does not address the underlying causes of distress.
For people experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, family difficulties or other forms of emotional pressure, she encouraged seeking healthier forms of support rather than turning to drugs.
Her appeal also reflects a broader shift in public conversations about addiction, with increasing emphasis on treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and support rather than solely punishment and stigma.
The actress has increasingly used her public platform to discuss social and personal issues, including challenges affecting young Nigerians.
Her latest intervention seeks to frame recovery as possible while cautioning against treating drugs as an escape from emotional pain.
The message is particularly relevant in a country where public-health authorities continue to encourage early intervention and professional support for people experiencing substance-use problems.