Curbing drug abuse and addiction

By Babatunde Olorunleke
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Drug abuse among the teeming youths in Nigeria has generated heated debate in recent time.

Like thunderbolt, it has attracted interest from different groups, organizations, individuals, government ministries and agencies including the National Assembly.

The problem is much bigger than we can imagine and we are probably waking up a little late in the day but certainly not too late.

We will be deceiving ourselves to think or believe that the situation is limited by geography, gender, social status or age.

Before 2013, Nigeria was only considered a transit nation for illicit drugs but now; we are an internationally recognized user nation. We should be wary of the iceberg phenomenon or effect that this subject may present.

Drug abuse, according to Wikipedia is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to himself or others.

Whenever drugs which are chemical substances, are used in manners that are not consistents with the prescribed standard, then abuse or misuse set in.

The danger according to a pharmacist and consultant, Miss Lola Adams is that drugs in performing their roles in the body; tend to alter the physiological pattern or behaviour of the system and if exposure is prolonged it can lead to  physical, psychological and physiological damage.

Abuse of drug can lead to addiction (and drug dependence) and for ease of comprehension; they are both regarded as drug use disorder.

Anyone can become a drug abuser and current information indicates that all ethnicities, social groups and gender can have drug abuse problems. It should be noted that drug abuse is a medical condition that has developed over the time. There is no established fact that drug abuse runs in the family. However, there are theories (personality, learning, biological or genetic and social cultural), which tend to explain the predisposing factors.

Apart from this theories, the causes of drug abuse according to many sources can be linked with factors including experimental curiosity, peer influence, parental influence, socio-economic conditions, extra energy requirements by youths engaged in hard prolonged labour at early ages, drug availability (ease of access) and the pain of withdrawal (syndrome) which motivates further abuse.

Adams asserts that, the drug that are commonly abused include but not limited to alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, inhalants, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, oxycodone, tramadol, codeine, morphine, chemical, cannabis or marijuana, opiates, heroine, stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, hallucinogens and many others.

“Drug use disorder is a common problem affecting about five percent of the world population. In Nigeria, it was reported recently that about three million codeine containing cough preparation are consumed daily in Kano and about six million bottles in the Northwest”.

The consequence of drug abuse varied and devastating for the individuals involved, the family, nation and international community. There are medical problems associated with drug abuse, which include mental disorder, liver cirrhosis, lethargy, irritability, cardio-vascular disorder etc.

“The social consequences are numerous: school drop-out, cultism, violence, armed robbery, lawlessness, cultural disorientation, rape, assassination, loss of productivity, the cost to the society is humongous”.

An Akure based pharmacist, Oluleye Dennis  said to combat this resurgent menace, a multi-dimensional approach is recommended which will involve:

The family: parents should create enough time to attend to the needs of their children and guide them properly to adulthood, the family size should be limited to reflect the socio-economic status for a total wellbeing.

The community and religious groups: the leaders should take active parts in resolving crisis at hand and help to prevent further occurrences through their utterances and actions and keep the family unit intact. There should be effective communications and may be the time has come for the setting up of Drug Abuse Vigilante Group for early detection and containment.

Youth groups: to positively use peer pressure to move their colleagues away from drug abuse and prevent new cases from occurring.

Government: Government should urgently empower the relevant agencies with adequate funding to discharge their duties appropriately and the agencies made to be alive to their responsibilities. Government must ensure that the drug distribution system is sanitized and access to dangerous drugs is severely restricted. Everybody involved in the handling of drugs must be brought under regulatory control. The economy must be stimulated to provide jobs for the unemployed and underemployed. An alternative means of engagement (example through sports) must be provided to take the youths out of the street.

Professional and trade groups: everybody must be involved in the efforts to educate the youths and limit the availability of drugs to professionals only. The pharmaceutical industry comprising of all the manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers have a big role to play. They must be extra vigilant in the handling of sensitive drugs that are prone to abuse by youths.

He averred that “drug abuse is a self destructive indulgence that leads to significant problems and distress. It has suddenly assumed an alarming proportion among youths in Nigeria.”

A pharmacist Amos Adeola  said drug addiction and substance abuse in Nigerias has become an epidemic, especially among the youth, noting that the burden of drug abuse and addiction calls for sober reflection because of its magnitude.

By far, the most commonly abused and misused drugs in Nigeria today are tramadol and codeine. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate and severe pains. In prescribed doses it has no negative effects on the respiratory system but an overdose causes arrhythmias, cramps, coma and eventually death.

Codeine is commonly prescribed as a pain killer because it is relatively mild when compared with many other opoid painkillers. It is nevertheless dangerous and habit-inducing. Prolonged and frequent codeine abuse can lead to maladaptive behavior and health problem, including death.

He continued by saying in April last year a documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Africa, on codeine syrup addiction portrayed the plague of drug and substance abuse in the country. The documentary highlighted the scale of the problem and underlined the failure of major stakeholders including pharmaceutical manufacturers, the national agency for food and drug administration and control (NAFDAC), the Phamacists Council in Nigeria (PCN), the Federal Ministry of health among others.

“Prior to the codeine syrup saga, the menace of the level of abuse and illicit use of tramadol had been a source of worry”, he emphasised.

Tramadol use disorder is associated with physical withdrawal symptoms and compulsive behaviour. In Nigeria, tramadol is regulated at the 50mg and 100mg dosage strengths, but very high dosage forms of 200mg and 225mg have infiltrated the market. There is also a noticeable increase in smuggling of tramadol capsule.

The abuse of drugs in Nigeria is caused by many factors ranging from proliferation of quacks in the drug trade, lack of regulatory control and dispensing among other factors. The scenario is worsened by smuggling through the nation’s seaports and land borders, compromises at the points of entry and weak penalties for these found culpable.

To address this public health and social problem, the executive, legislature and judiciary must synchronize with health, educational and religious institutions. Society as a whole needs to take up the issue with more seriousness and vigour through active collaboration among strategic agencies.

With the return of NAFDAC to the port and borders, it has also become necessary to strengthen the regulatory  alertness and diligence in the control of importation and distribution of drugs and food substance. This should be followed with sustained advocacy and public awareness campaigns.

We must review the nation’s obsolete drug laws to enable the judiciary apply suitable and stiff penalties to serve as deterrent.