PSN and NDLEA Strengthen Partnership to Combat Drug Abuse and Protect Public Health in Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria — The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), led by its President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, FPSN, has paid a strategic courtesy visit to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), to deepen collaboration in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against drug abuse, trafficking, and misuse.

During the meeting, Dr. Ibrahim commended NDLEA’s renewed energy in tackling illicit drug trade, securing national borders, and rehabilitating victims of substance abuse — efforts he described as “vital to strengthening Nigeria’s public health and national security.”

A Call to Rethink “Normal” — For the Sake of Tomorrow - Joseph Ebirim

What we call “normal” today is far from what it was just a decade ago. Sadly, some of the most dangerous shifts in our society are not in technology or fashion, but in our values, lifestyles, and the cultures we’ve chosen to embrace—or abandon.

There was a time when meaningful conversations were the norm—rooted in respect, reason, and a shared goal to find solutions. Today, hostility often takes center stage. Comment sections that should be platforms for ideas have become battlegrounds of insults and half-baked opinions.

Nigeria’s Healthcare Crisis: A Pharmacist’s Honest Reflection on What Really Ails the System - Pharm. Joseph Ebirim

Pharm. Joseph Ebirim

As a pharmacist practicing in a typical Nigerian community, one of the most rewarding parts of my profession is understanding how the human body works and helping people make better health decisions. Yet, every day, I’m deeply troubled by how lightly many Nigerians take issues that directly affect their health and that of their loved ones. This concern is what constantly fuels my passion to write and speak about our failing health system.

The Hidden Cost of the Night Hustle: How Late-Night Remote Work and Partying Impact Your Sexual and Heart Health

Photograph of young adults working online at night  

In today’s digital age, remote jobs have given young people incredible flexibility. From coding and design to virtual assistance and customer support, opportunities abound — but at a cost. Port Harcourt like many urban and semi-urban communities accomodate a growing population of young people engaged in one, “night hustle” or the other. Young people stay awake all night chasing deadlines, attend to clients in different time zones, andothers  try to unwind through drinking, clubbing, or binge streaming.

While this lifestyle may seem glamorous or productive, it comes with serious health trade-offs — especially concerning sexual vitality and heart health.

The Good Side: A Few Hidden Positives

Are there good sides to some of the night hustle? Yes there are a few for us to consider.

1. Increased Physical Activity (Sometimes):
   

   Clubbing, dancing, or even short bursts of nightlife activity can promote blood circulation and endorphin release, which briefly supports cardiovascular health and mood.

2. Social Connectivity:
   

   Interacting socially reduces loneliness and may enhance emotional satisfaction — an indirect factor that contributes to healthy libido and lower stress hormones like cortisol.

3. Economic Empowerment and Confidence:
   Remote jobs improve income stability, which can boost confidence, self-esteem, and indirectly, sexual performance. Financial security reduces anxiety, which often interferes with libido.

However, the negatives often outweigh these benefits if the body doesn’t get adequate rest and recovery.

The Dark Side: How Sleep Deprivation and Nightlife Harm Sexual and Heart Health

1. Poor Sleep and Sexual Dysfunction

Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which are key to sexual desire and performance. Studies show that men who sleep less than 5 hours per night experience a 10–15% drop in testosterone levels (Leproult & Van Cauter, 2011). Women, too, report reduced arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction when chronically sleep-deprived. Moreover, fatigue from irregular sleep patterns leads to decreased libido, premature ejaculation, and erectile difficulties. For women, disrupted circadian rhythms may cause menstrual irregularities and mood swings that interfere with sexual health.

2. Stress, Cortisol, and the heavy burden on the heart

Night-time work can be stressful, especially when deadlines and client demands pile up. Chronic stress increases the blood levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) and this in turn raises blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammations. Over time, this can lead to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmias. According to the American Heart Association (AHA, 2021), poor sleep and stress are major predictors of cardiovascular disease in adults under 40.

3. Alcohol and Nicotine: The Silent Double Threat

For many night workers, alcohol and smoking become coping tools. While small amounts of alcohol may initially relax the body, regular or binge drinking damages heart muscles, causes arrhythmia, and suppresses testosterone production. Nicotine, on the other hand, narrows blood vessels, limiting blood flow to the genitals — a leading cause of erectile dysfunction in young men. Together, alcohol and tobacco accelerate heart disease and sexual dysfunction, creating a dangerous cycle.

4. Circadian Rhythm Disrupti

Your body’s internal clock — the circadian rhythm — regulates sleep, hormone release, and metabolism. Night-time activity confuses this rhythm, leading to insulin resistance, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome, all of which increase the risk of heart attack and low libido (Buxton et al., 2012).

5. Emotional and Relationship Impact

Fatigue, irritability, and mood swings from poor sleep also reduce intimacy and communication between partners. Over time, this emotional detachment can lead to relationship strain — another indirect blow to sexual health and wellbeing.

Practical Tips for a Healthier Balance

1. Create a Sleep Routine: Even if you work nights, aim for 7–8 hours of continuous sleep during the day. Use blackout curtains, white noise, and a cool room.

2. Limit Alcohol and Energy Drinks: Hydrate with water and natural juices.

3. Exercise Regularly: At least 30 minutes of moderate activity daily improves heart function and circulation.

4. Eat Smart: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fats, and whole grains supports both sexual and cardiovascular health.

5. Schedule “Tech-Free” Nights: Avoid screens and bright lights before rest; they suppress melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Conclusion

The late-night hustle culture can offer short-term gains — income, freedom, excitement — but unchecked, it silently erodes two of life’s most vital assets: a strong heart and a healthy sex life.

True success isn’t just about productivity or nightlife thrills; it’s about balance. Protect your body while you chase your dreams — because both your heart and hormones depend on it.

References

• American Heart Association. (2021). Lack of sleep and heart health. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org

• Buxton, O. M., Cain, S. W., O’Connor, S. P., Porter, J. H., Duffy, J. F., Wang, W., ... & Czeisler, C. A. (2012). Adverse metabolic consequences in humans of prolonged sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption. Science Translational Medicine, 4(129), 129ra43. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.300320

• Eye On Annapolis. (2025, July). [Photograph of young adults working online at night]. In Why late nights online have become a new social norm. Eye On Annapolis. https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2025/07/why-late-nights-online-have-become-a-new-social-norm/ 

• Leproult, R., & Van Cauter, E. (2011). Effect of sleep loss on testosterone levels in men. JAMA, 305(21), 2173–2174. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.710

• World Health Organization. (2023). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)

• Irwin, M. R. (2015). Why sleep is important for health: A psychoneuroimmunology perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 143–172. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115205 

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When Addiction Enters a Marriage: How Substance Abuse Destroys Trust, Love, and Stability - Pharm Joseph Ebirim

Image credit: American Addiction Centers (2025) 

Substance abuse isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a relationship crisis.
When addiction creeps into a marriage, it doesn’t just affect the person using—it creates a third presence in the relationship. Over time, addiction can slowly erode trust, communication, and emotional intimacy, turning love into resentment and hope into heartbreak.

Here’s how substance abuse silently tears marriages apart—and what can be done to stop the damage.