Before now, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja was a safe place not infused with societal misdemeanors. But, that is now history as increased urbanisation and satellite towns sprang up with its associated socioeconomic daily struggles and competition to make ends meet.
It is not surprising that increased urbanisation has come with it, dearth of infrastructural facilities, unemployment, desperation, increased cost of living compounded by inconsistent policy measures by successive administrations, influx of criminally minded persons, prostitution, destitution, drugs addiction/abuse, among other related and associated problems. Although, some of these anomalies persist but the most threatening which has assumed uncontrollable dimensions among adults and youths is drugs abuse and addiction.
Two separate trips to suburbs of Deidei, in Bwari Local Government Area in FCT and Mararaba, a border town in Nasarawa state, near the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, reveals enormous decadence in drugs abuse. Although most of the respondents/drugs addicts declined to volunteer their identities or to be interviewed for fear of being identified by law enforcement agencies, few who spoke attributed the increasing waves of drugs abuse to frustrations, desperation, family issues, unemployment, group pressures, social influence, inability to block the sources of drugs and even complicity by some personnels of law enforcement agencies, among other causes.
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Drugs abuse can simply be defined as
use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain for the facilitation of intended action. Also, drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain. It may be to heighten or inhibit feelings or still, to boost impetus and facilitate implementation of intended or contemplated action which ordinarily, one may be incapable of executing.
There are various categories of these drugs commonly found and abused in Abuja and they range from refined to what one may term as crude types. The addicts patronise these drugs for various purposes just as their effects vary. Addicts have also invented local cover-up names for virtually all the drugs in circulation.
Our findings showed that drugs abuse cut across socioeconomic status as seen in various age groups and individuals from nearly all works of life and socioeconomic strata even though, the socioeconomic status determines the drugs type the addicts go for. This can be seen in the viral case of Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of University of Lagos and the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Usifo Ataga.
Further findings also indicates that, men are involved in drugs abuse than women, single persons more disposed to taking drugs than married individuals, while urban dwellers more exposed to drugs indulgence than rural dwellers. Also, those involved in daily strenuous works, street children and destitutes (including mentally derange) live on drugs on daily basis.
*SOME DRUGS AND EFFECTS
Some of these drugs include Cannabis (usually got from plant Cannabis Sativa) which is a depressant drug that slow down the activity of the Central nervous system and the messages going between the brain and the body. It is often smoked alone or mixed with tobacco and are also added in food and even alcoholic drinks.
The disguised names of Cannabis includes: Igbo, Weewee, Weed, Marijuana, Mary and Joan, Choko, Yoyo, Kush, Skunk, Green Leaf, Ghanja, Grass, Indian Hemp (a term sometimes used on the streets), Blaze, Taba, Ndedeko, Bendel Market, Joint, Pot and Genye. Its diverse names showed how popular it is and how it is commonly accessed in black spots. It produces many effects which health experts have classified into short and long term effects which intensity depends on how regular and heavy cannabis is being used by addicts.
Some of the instant effects include loss of inhibition (can feel unusually well, happy, talkative), quiet and reflective mood, drowsy (tired), Intense or altered senses to sound, colour and other sensations, altered memory and thinking, confusion, anxiety (worry, nervous, tense) and mild paranoia (feeling undue suspicion of others), altered vision and bloodshot eyes, dryness of the eyes, mouth and throat, reduced coordination and balance, decreased nausea (feeling of sickness in stomach) and increased appetite (hungry for food).
The long term effects of talking Cannabis which is devastating are associated problems of memory and learning, decreased motivation and concentration, increased risk of respiratory diseases, Paranoia (feeling undue suspicion of others), Psychosis (seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted).
Also, Heroin which is drug got from the opium poppy, is a depressant drug often taken either injected into the vein, smoked with cigarettes or Cannabis added into it or snorted. It is common among drug addicts with various names just like cannabis. Some of the disguised names in Nigeria include: Gabji, Market, Brown, Brown Sugar, Horse, Skunk, Smack. The intake of heroin slows down the messages travelling between the brain and body and the user becomes dependent on it with gradual consistent intake.
The effects include high level of pleasure and pain relief, Relaxation, drowsiness and clumsiness; Confusion, Slurred and slow speech, Dry mouth, Tiny pupils (circular opening in the centre of the iris of the eye), Breathing become shallow, Reduced appetite and vomiting, and Decreased sex drive. The long term effects are Sadness, Irregular periods and difficulty having children in the case of females addicts, No sex drive for males, Constipation, Damaged heart, lungs, liver and brain, Vein damage and skin, heart and lung, infections from injecting (i.e., HIV and Hepatitis C), Needing to use more to get the same effect (develop tolerance); Dependency and Withdrawal symptoms such as cravings for heroin, restlessness and irritability, depression, diarrhea, yawning and restless sleep, stomach and leg cramps, vomiting and no appetite, and a runny nose.
In the case of Cocaine, it is drug made from the leaves of the coca plant found in South America. It is a stimulant drug which speeds up the brain and nervous system. It is most commonly snorted into the nose and can as well be injected, rubbed into the gums, added to drinks or foods.
Names associated with it include Coke, Powder, Thailand White, Brown/Black, Off White, Rock, Snow, Blow, Chunk, Stone and Charlie. The various effects include stimulation of happiness and confidence, talking more, Feeling energetic and alert, Feeling physically strong and mentally sharp, Reduced appetite, Dry mouth, Enlarged (dilated) pupils, Faster heartbeat and breathing, Higher body temperature, Increased sex drive; Unpredictable, violent or aggressive behavior, Delusions (over inflated sense of worth, power, knowledge, or identity).
Prolonged use of cocaine leads to further long term effects as Insomnia (cannot sleep) and exhaustion, Nasal (nose), sinus problems, nose bleeds;
Anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, depression; Eating disorders and weight loss; Sexual dysfunction (not performing normally); Heart damage, Lung problems, Kidney failure, Increased risk of strokes {loss of body function on one side) and seizures (body convulsions or loss of consciousness), Anxiety, Paranoia: feeling extremely suspicious of others; Psychosis: seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted; withdrawal symptoms such as: craving cocaine badly, feeling angry or upset, feeling sick, vomiting, shaking and tiredness; among other undescribable devastating dysfunction of the body systems.
Apart from the above types of drugs common among average and well to do drug addicts, other easily accessed drugs commonly peddled include mix of codeine, tramadol, rohypnol and while other crude drugs in vogue now among low profile addicts include smoking of lizard parts and dung; sniffing glue, petrol, sewage and urine.
*PREVALENCE
Apart from the discovery that drugs and drugs abuse is not only common among well to do in the society, but the prevalence use of low profile drugs such as codeine, tramadol, rohypnol, amphetamine, smoking of lizard parts and dung; sniffing glue, petrol, sewage and urine is common among the younger population, males, undergraduates and secondary school students; commercial vehicle drivers, commercial motor cyclists, street children, destitudes and other categories of persons engaged in various daily hard labours.
*REASONS ADDUCED FOR DRUGS INDULGENCE
Although, virtually all the aforementioned drugs are either banned or controlled, but those who indulge in them adduced several reasons for it including peer group influence, to enhance physical performance, derive pleasure, induce sleep, experiment/curiosity motives, and to keep awake. Other reasons further given include poor socioeconomic status, family problems and poor academic performance, frustrations, unemployment, anxiety and perceived failure to meet up with socioeconomic expectations.
*MEASURES OF CONTROL
Although, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) currently led by Maj.Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman, is at the forefront of the fight against illicit drugs and peddling in Nigeria, some have said that Federal Government needs to do more than that in terms of embarking on coordinated and targeted intervention programmes and projects. It is highly canvassed that government needs to create multiple employment opportunities to relieve frustrations associated with unemployment which often drive idle persons into drugs.
Further, is the modeling of sustainable enlightenment campaigns programmes at the grassroots, communities, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, Churches and Mosques, markets, motor parks and other targeted public places on the dangers and risks inherent and associated with illicit drugs. Some argued that it is far much better to expose individuals on the dangers of drugs and implications of its abuse while still on youthful and adolescent stages than at matured stages.
Some respondents called for strict monitoring of suspected drugs arena by joint team of law enforcement agencies and that the task should not be left in the hands of police alone so that the fear of being arrested and made to face the punitive measures may deter drug addicts and peddler. Also, the importance of action plans geared towards rehabilitation of drugs addicts cannot be overlooked.
In conclusion, whatever motivates drugs addiction and abuse, the health hazards inherent it calls for caution. However, the need for government’s targeted preemptive measures cannot be over emphasised in the fight against the social menace.
-Contributed By: Clement O. Nwoji,
Christy Ebhodaghe, Mariam Ashley Yusuf, Yusuf Oyiza Mariam and Caleb Abah
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