Children as Young as 10 Seeking Drug Treatment in Africa, Experts Warn of Deepening Child Protection Crisis

Children in drug treatment are now as young as 10 in parts of Africa, according to medical experts who warn this trend signals serious child protection failures.

The warning emerged during the February 15, 2026 edition of the Toyin Falola Interviews, where leading psychiatrists, drug control officials and youth advocates discussed what they described as an alarming shift in substance use trends. Data presented during the session showed that nearly five percent of individuals accessing treatment services fall between the ages of 10 and 14.

For child protection advocates, that figure is not just a statistic. It is a signal.

Why Children in Drug Treatment Are Getting Younger

Dr. Martin Agwogie, founder of the Global Initiative on Substance Abuse, said the appearance of pre-teens in formal treatment systems suggests that exposure to drugs is happening far earlier than many policymakers realise.

Experts point to a mix of risk factors driving this trend. In many communities, children grow up in environments shaped by poverty, displacement, urban overcrowding, and limited supervision. In some cases, substance use is normalised within the household or neighbourhood. In others, children are recruited into street economies where drugs are both a commodity and a coping mechanism.

Conflict and migration also play a role. Children separated from families, living in informal settlements, or working on the streets are especially vulnerable to exploitation and early initiation into substance use.

There is also the digital dimension. Increased access to smartphones and social media has made it easier for drug culture to spread across borders and age groups, often glamorised and rarely countered by strong prevention messaging.

The Child Protection Gaps Behind Children in Drug Treatment

Child welfare systems in many African countries are stretched thin. Social workers are few. Community-based monitoring is inconsistent. School-based counselling services are often absent.

When prevention fails, treatment services are rarely designed with children in mind. Many rehabilitation centres cater primarily to adults. Younger children who enter care may face stigma, inappropriate treatment models, or limited psychological support tailored to their developmental stage.

The fact that children as young as 10 are reaching treatment centres may mean two things at once: early exposure is rising, but awareness and referral systems may also be improving in some areas. Still, experts caution that treatment alone cannot solve what is fundamentally a protection failure.

The cost to children

Substance use at such a young age can disrupt brain development, impair learning, and increase the risk of long-term addiction and mental health disorders. It can also expose children to violence, sexual exploitation, and conflict with the law.

More quietly, it robs them of childhood.

When a 10-year-old enters a treatment facility, it reflects not only a health crisis but also a breakdown in the networks that are meant to shield children, families, schools, communities and governments.

How to Prevent More Children in Drug Treatment

Experts say a child protection response must go beyond law enforcement and focus on prevention, early intervention and family support.

First, governments can strengthen community-based child protection systems. That includes training teachers, health workers and community leaders to recognise early warning signs and intervene before substance use escalates.

Second, investment in family support programmes is critical. Parenting education, economic empowerment initiatives, and social protection schemes can reduce the stressors that often contribute to neglect and vulnerability.

Third, schools can serve as a frontline defense. Age-appropriate drug education, accessible counselling services, and safe reporting channels can help children seek help early.

Fourth, youth-focused treatment services need expansion. Rehabilitation models must account for children’s developmental needs, trauma histories and educational continuity. Integrating mental health services into primary care can also make support more accessible and less stigmatised.

Finally, regional cooperation is essential. Drug trafficking networks operate across borders, and prevention strategies must do the same. Sharing data, best practices and funding mechanisms can strengthen responses continent-wide.

A turning point

The emergence of children in drug treatment systems should not be viewed as an isolated health statistic. It is a warning light on the dashboard of Africa’s child protection landscape.

If addressed early and decisively, it can become a turning point, a moment that drives investment in prevention, strengthens families, and builds safer environments for children to grow.

If ignored, experts warn, the cost will be measured not just in treatment numbers, but in lost potential for a generation that deserves better protection and stronger support.