IT has been advised that drugs may promise a shortcut to paradise, but they inevitably lead takers down a destructive highway. This saying should serve as a deterrent to people who abuse drugs, yet many individuals continue down the path of destruction, oblivious to the devastating consequences that await them.
A look into the world of drug abuse shows clearly that the allure of temporary highs can be deceiving, thus, masking long-term effects that can shatter lives, families and communities.
However, the question is, how successful have efforts by stakeholders been fighting drug abuse and addiction?
Omoh Hussein, a rehabilitated drug addict in his 30s, said that the war against illicit drug peddling and use in Nigeria may never succeed unless stakeholders change their approach to tackling the menace.
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Hussein, who lives at Oke Suna community in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while speaking with journalists at the second Kwara Stakeholders’ Summit on Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control in Ilorin, said that the war against illicit drug peddling and use may never succeed unless it is taken to hotels and other hospitality facilities.
Narrating how he got into drugs and the increasing negativity of drugs, especially synthetic ones on youth, Hussein said that youth in the country are disillusioned as they think that drugs give them energy and pleasure.
He said that during the time he was taking Colorado (colos), his brain would stop functioning well and he won’t be able to think straight any longer. “That’s why all these cult killings, public fighting and criminality are caused by use of hard drugs,” he said.
He said that the government should not limit the fight against drug use and trafficking to raids of drug joints, adding that the government should be more serious in the fight against drug abuse and addiction. He said that the NDLEA should monitor and keep security tight in all entry points into the state.
The repentant drug user also said that pharmacy outlets and hotels in the country are culpable in drug trafficking and use, adding that drug suppliers lodge in hotels, while pharmaceutical shops also retail hard drugs to buyers. He called on drug law enforcement agencies to turn their searchlight to these facilities for effective control of drug abuse and use.
Hussein, who said that security agents including men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the police and other personnel often compromise when they come raiding drug hideouts, adding that rising cases of drug peddling and abuse are linked to country’s poor socioeconomic situation.
He said: “the government has just been looking in the wrong direction in the fight against drugs.”
Taking a look at the issue from medical profession, an expert in neuropsychiatry, who was a speaker at the summit, Professor Issa Baba Awoye, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Budo Egba, Kwara state, in his presentation, titled, the ‘Neuro psychiatric Consequences of Synthetic Drug Abuse: A clinical perspective,’ highlighted dangers of drug abuse, explaining how it affects the brain’s reward system and contributes to addiction, mental health disorders and crime.
Speaking on the brain reward system, he stated that the main neurotransmitter associated with pleasure is dopamine.
“The brain releases dopamine, also known as the ‘feel-good’ hormone, in response to activities such as eating, sex and drug use. While sex and food promote natural dopamine release, drugs trigger an excessive surge leading to addiction,” he said.
Professor Awoye, who said that natural drugs take months or even years to be produced, transported and refined, added that synthetic drugs can be manufactured within hours or days.
“The ease of producing synthetic drugs makes them more accessible and dangerous, as they can flood the system with high levels of dopamine,” he warned.
According to him, the impact of drug abuse extends beyond personal health, affecting society at large, saying, “The consequences include addiction, mental health disorders, increased crime and violence, and a heavy public health burden.”
Professor Awoye acknowledged the efforts of the government in combating drug abuse through awareness campaigns, government hospitals and rehabilitation centres. However, he pointed out significant challenges in tackling the crisis.
“Corruption and inadequate funding remain major obstacles in the fight against drug abuse,” he stated, adding that, “Without proper funding and a commitment to eliminating corruption, these efforts may not achieve the desired results.”
Another speaker, the Oloro of Oro kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye II, stated, “Drug abuse is when a drug is used for a different purpose than intended, or in excessive amounts. It can involve illegal drugs, as well as medicines.”
Drug abuse comes with different problems, as it takes toll on the user’s dependency on it. It comes with addiction, highness and poses a great threat to the user’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Synthetic drugs: In Nigeria, one of the most abused drugs is Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine, popularly called, ‘ice’ or ‘crystal meth’ in English, is a potent and highly addictive synthetic stimulant with severe health consequences. Its use and distribution are illegal in many countries, but Nigerians see it as their escape from reality.
Based on a doctor’s perspective, Dr Fadeyi Abiodun, who is a researcher at the National Institute for Medical Research in Lagos, emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address the rising trend of drug abuse among youth.
He said: “Drugs are mostly used amongst youths and interventions should be mostly targeted towards them.” There is no gainsaying in this as it has been confirmed by other scholars in the field of drug usage.
Engaging with attendees of the summit, who were mostly secondary school students, serving youth corps members, law enforcement agents, among other various stakeholders, it was established that drug abuse is a menace that should be curbed at an early stage.
Using Hussein’s story as a case study, it could be deduced that he wouldn’t have been misled if he had been cautioned at an early age.
One of the attendees, Abubakar Khadijah, a secondary school student, gave her view on how she sees people who abuse drugs. “I always thought people take drugs because they feel like it, but I know better now. From the video presentation, I am made to know people sometimes take drugs to escape a reality that torments them.”
She also gave her account of being close to someone who abuses drugs. “When I tell them to stop, they would say I wasn’t feeling it, that I didn’t know what was good, that I wasn’t ‘ja’ (enjoying life) or that I didn’t know what I was missing.”
Her account indicates that the abuse of drugs is prevalent in schools.
Lanre Idris Mustapha, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic, urged the youths to stay away from drug abuse and illicit substances, emphasizing the need for responsible youthfulness.
As a student leader, Mustapha said he feels a responsibility to guide his peers toward making the right choices. “As young people, we have the tendency to explore and engage in activities that seem pleasurable at the moment. However, we must remember that our youth will not last forever, and we should not use it as an excuse to destroy our future,” he said.
He warned about the dangers of drug abuse, citing personal experiences with friends who have suffered negative consequences. “I know some friends and colleagues who engage in drug abuse, and I have seen the damaging effects on them. It is truly disheartening,” he said.
Mustapha implored students to prioritise their future while enjoying their youth responsibly. “While having fun, we must be cautious not to jeopardise our future. I strongly urge all youths to stay away from drugs,” he said.
One of the youth corps members, Muhammad Awwal Ibrahim, gave his account on how he was influenced by people who abuse drugs around him. “They borrow money from me and sometimes I don’t want to give them, but these people can do anything to get their hands on those drugs. So, I am left with no option than to lend them money.”
In a way, it could be deduced that Muhammad is encouraging the abuse of drugs amongst his peers. People who abuse drugs can go any length to get their hands on drugs. This includes stealing and murder with grave consequences like long jail term and even death.
As established earlier, the abuse of drugs can seem enticing, but the consequences of addiction can be devastating.
As we navigate the complexities of drug abuse, it’s essential to remember that recovery is possible, and seeking help is the first step towards reclaiming a life derailed by addiction.
Stakeholders concluded that by sharing the stories of those affected, raising awareness, and supporting drug abuse initiatives, we can work together to create a safer, healthier future for all.
Credit:Sahara Reporters