‘We take to drugs because our families abandoned us’

By Tola Gbadamosi
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No fewer than 19 people above the age of 60 years, nabbed with illicit drugs  in recent time  by operatives of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ondo State Command (NDLEA), have attributed their involvement in drugs  to abandonment by their  families.

The Hope Metro investigation revealed that the aged people whose aged range from 60 and over 90, had separately confessed that they took to drugs  because of lack of care and negligent by their families members.

Disclosing to our correspondent during an interview, the  state commander, Mr Haruna Gagara said, “since 2016 till date, 19 persons above the age of 60 have been arrested for illicit drug trafficking, as they claimed they were abandoned by their families.

“They  take advantage of their ages. This  is because old age comes with different illnesses. For that reason, most people do not see reasons why a sick old person should  be a suspect or arrested.

“On the recent arrest of  the 95 years old man we caught in Akoko,  there is no way we can take him to court, but to give him administrative arrest as  he is  not  medically fit.

 “By the time they  are apprehended and taken to court,  the court would reject such case. These are the kinds  of law  on ground which they know as fact.

“Moreover, they know because they are sick, nobody would want to arrest any old person who might fall sick in their custody. They know that by the time it happens, they will end up spending money  taking care of them as they are considered because of their  ages.

 According to him,  “these old people involved in these illicit drugs trafficking at such ages show that they are actually showing signs  of irresponsible because they are supposed to be role models for the younger ones.”

Also speaking on the issue,  the Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychiatrist hospital in Akure,  Dr. Akinwumi Akinnoye,  gave a professional view of  the  reasons why people above the age of 60 years being quiet significant among those that have being arrested by the  NDLEA  in trafficking psycho active substances in recent years, commit the offence.

“I would like you to understand that, people that start using drugs at tender ages will continue to use it at old ages. A few of them only pick up the habit at elderly ages.  I can tell you a good number of them are still on it. Only a few will have reasons to stop along the line.

 “Many of them would grow old even while still using the substance. I believe if you check, majority of them would have being using it at much younger age.

 “We also know that aged people have the risk in  using psycho active substances, alcohol in particular. And any other like cannabis.

 Akinnoye added that, there are factors that led  old people above the age of 60  to be  involved in drugs, such as social challenges, economic challenges, and biological challenges.

” Facing all these will make a good number of them to take, “support” from psycho active substances.

The effects or influence will help them in the social aspect which is  loneliness. Most people of these ages are particularly lonely. Let us note that advanced age is about loss and less of gain.

“One major thing they lose is associate and companionship when they lose their spouses or best friends. One major problem we have identified with old people is loneliness and it increases the risk for psycho active substances use.

“Another socio-economic factor is lost  of economic power. Most people which is the majority, don’t have anything to fall back on. This could constitute significant stress.

A major reason is the multiple health factors. One needs to have  worked with the elderly or even be an elderly to understand this. Only very few elderly will be fortunate not to have some health issues. And when it occurs with good support, these people will not have choices than to see what can boost their mood.

“We cannot lie that these substances have a way of enhancing peoples mood at times. It’s just like a little benefit and massive damages. In the process in using this, some of them will be stuck in it and that  becomes addiction.

 “To us in this profession, it’s not surprising that  NDLEA arrested elderly people in trafficking psychoactive drugs. We can explain it along this line,” he explained.