In bustling streets of Nigeria, while the abuse of drugs like codeine, and tramadol has long afflicted the country. A new wave of synthetic drugs has been on the rise, particularly Methamphetamine (commonly known in the streets of Nigeria as Ice or Mkpuru Mmri meaning raindrops) and synthetic cannabinoids known as Colorado, spice, K2, or Black Mamba. these drugs are becoming popular amongst the youth and becoming a cause for concern. The drug Colorado looks closely like marijuana, but it is nothing like marijuana because the effects of this drug are extreme with users experiencing symptoms like convulsions, hallucinations, and even death.
Statistics exposes the largeness of this issue, according to NOI polls results Nigerians believe that the highest abusers of drugs and substances are teenagers and young adults from 15 to 29 years old. The NOI poll results also show that most Nigerians believe the major causes of drug abuse to be poverty, unemployment, peer pressure, and societal influence. According to the national survey on drug use conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)and the Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA), the prevalence of drug use was estimated in 2018 at 14.4 percent or 14.3 million people aged between 15 and 64 years.
Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids such as Colorado have recently become popular among Nigerian youths due to easy accessibility, affordability, and strong potency. Methamphetamine is a crystal narcotic hallucinogen that is manufactured by combining ephedrine and pseudoephedrine with other chemicals, Colorado contains strains of marijuana laced with synthetic ingredients to increase the potency and effect of this drug on its users.
In recent times videos of Nigerian youths experiencing the effects of these drugs have been rampant on social media. ,they are seen acting out in disturbing ways, and some are hard to control. The use of these synthetic drugs poses health threats both psychological and physical to the youths of Nigeria, Methamphetamine can lead to severe physical and psychological reliability on the drugs making it almost impossible to function with them or even stop. These drugs also put the physical health of their users at risk as they cause cardiovascular problems, neurological damage, and psychosis.
While law enforcement is crucial for the fight against drugs, addressing the root causes can play a vital role in the successful fight against this plague. There is a stigma surrounding drug users and drug addiction which could lead to discrimination towards drug addicts looking to recover, according to the report done by The government of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), center for research and information on substances abuse ( CRISA ) and the United Nations office on drugs and crime (UNODC), efforts to reduce the stigma related to drug addiction can help the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
According to a report done by We Are People on the consequences of Nigeria’s drug law policy and human rights, Drug users are treated poorly by the government. The study showed that most drug users reported series of human right abuse by Law enforcement agencies such as rape, extortion, physical harm and many others. On the issue of rehabilitation, some drug users in Nigeria are faced with extreme measures to combat their addiction and some are placed in religious homes, these centers are institutions where people with drug addiction are placed for rehabilitation, There they are faced with extreme punishments to overcome their drug addiction. In conclusion, drug abuse among the youths is a cause for concern and by educating them, providing proper rehabilitation centers, and amplifying the voices of former addicts. The country can move towards creating a part for healing and hope for the future generations.
