There is an Addiction Epidemic | MENtality with Ebuka, Banky W & Aproko Doctor.
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Show notes
In this episode of MENtality with Ebuka, host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is joined by co-host Banky Wellington, alongside medical doctor, health advocate and digital creator Aproko Doctor, for a deeply insightful conversation on addiction and the hidden ways men cope with pressure, pain and emotional overwhelm.
The discussion explores how addiction, whether to alcohol, drugs, gambling, work, sex, social media, success, or validation, often hides beneath the surface of male coping mechanisms. For many men, addiction is not always loud or obvious; sometimes, it looks like overworking, emotional avoidance, chasing constant approval, or using substances and distractions to escape unresolved pain.
Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s growing substance abuse challenge, with about 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15–64 reportedly using drugs, nearly three times the global average, the episode examines addiction not simply as a moral failure, but as a response to pressure, silence, trauma, loneliness, and the expectations placed on men to “be strong” without support.
Together, the conversation unpacks the relationship between masculinity and escapism, the shame that prevents men from seeking help, and the importance of recovery, accountability, honesty, and healthier coping systems. The episode also challenges men to confront the things they run to when they are unable to speak about what they are running from.
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