The issue of drug and substance abuse among the teeming youths in Nigeria has taken a new dimension, as the problem is much bigger than projected decades ago.Experts have expressed worry that this may lead to an irreversible lethal consequence on the youths, who occupy the larger percentage of the country’s population, if not addressed on time, adding that the upsurge is rapidly destroying the future of the country, as many young promising lives are destroyed to drugs daily.
However, before 2013, Nigeria was considered only as a transit nation for illicit drugs, but is currently recognised internationally as user nation.
Some of these drugs and substances commonly abused among youths in the country include but not limited to prescription drugs, such as Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, Methadone, oxycodone, Tramadol, codeine, Morphine among other; chemicals and illegal drugs such as cannabis or marijuana, opiates, heroine.
Others include, stimulants, such as methamphetamines and cocaine as well as hallucinogens.
More surprising is that substance abuse has taken another level in the country as the abusers engage in smoking lizard dung, inhaling dry faeces, mixing bleach with soft drinks, among other mysterious deeds, just for the following purposes, such as to derive pleasure, feel or perform better in certain situations, or to change one’s perception of reality.
Although, it was reported that about three million codeine containing cough syrups are consumed daily in Kano and about six million bottles in the Northwest region of Nigeria, the current 2018 National Survey on Drug Use in Nigeria, recently presented by the federal government in Abuja shows that 14.3 million people, representing approximately 14.4 per cent of the country’s population, between the ages of 15 and 64 abuse drugs and substances in the past one year.
