Kayode Ojewale
It is not the drugs that make a
drug addict, it’s the need to escape reality – Riley Blue (Fictional character
portrayed by Tuppence Middleton)
Addiction begins with hope that
something “out there” can instantly fill up the emptiness inside – Jean
Kilbourne, a public Speaker.
In Nigeria, the cosmetic approach of always treating the
symptoms rather than the disease has created more problems than solutions in
the fight against drug abuse and addiction. The failure to deploy sustainable
holistic approach to tackle drug abuse and addiction from the source keeps
impacting our society negatively. This drug-troubled situation has remained so
for long given the deep-rooted nature of drugs and this has eaten far into the
fabrics of our nation today. It is therefore imperative for all concerned and
well-meaning Nigerians to address this ravaging challenge of drug abuse in our
society today by providing a lasting solution as a matter of national urgency
and emergency.
A drug is a substance used to treat an illness, relieve a
symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose. Drugs
are meant to change the state or function of the body. The misuse of, or
overindulgence in drugs is called drug abuse. To abuse a drug is to use it for
non-medical purpose, or to take an overdose of the prescription. The use of a
drug only for the effect it produces is an abuse of that drug. Experts and
clinical pharmacists have submitted that self-medication or self-prescription
is a common form of drug abuse.
Drug abuse is also the use of illicit drugs resulting in
physical, mental, emotional and social impairment of the user. Legally allowed
drugs may be abused through overdose or non-conformity to prescription
directives.
According to the World Health Organisation, drug abuse or
substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances,
including alcohol and illicit drugs. This results in a strong desire to take
the drug and difficulty in controlling its use despite harmful consequences.
Recently, a report of the first ever survey on drug use in Nigeria was
released. The survey, which was supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime and the European Union, revealed that, about 14.3 million Nigerians,
representing about 14.4 per cent of the country’s population between ages 15 to
64, were said to have abused drugs in the past one year.
With respect to addiction treatment and rehabilitation,
drugs can be classified, as regulated by the Controlled Substances Act into
five categories – Narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and
anabolic steroids. Narcotics work by inducing sleep, dulling and deadening the
senses. Depressants decrease neuronal or physiological activity in the body.
Stimulants act to increase and promote physiological or nervous activity in the
body. Hallucinogens create a sensory perception of something that does not
exist leading to substantial subjective changes in thoughts, emotions and consciousness.
Anabolics are used to treat weight loss and muscle growth.
Research reveals that the five most addictive substances in
the world are: Heroin, cocaine, nicotine, barbiturates and alcohol. Mostly
abused drugs among Nigerian youths, due to the affordability, are some
prescription drugs such as tramadol, codeine, antibiotics, cough syrups and
laxatives. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, said drug abuse could
lead to irregular heartbeat – cramp, coma and death. She identified reasons for
high prevalence of drug abuse in the country as: love of money by peddlers,
unemployment, disobedience to laws of the land and the porous borders.
According to her, the only way to prevent a breakdown of law and order by the
addicts is for government to develop and enforce National Prescription Policy.
Drug addiction is simply dependency on drugs, especially
those which are illegally procured. Drug addiction is a disease which affects a
person’s brain and behavior resulting in an inability to control the use of
such drug. Wikipedia defines addiction as a brain disorder characterised by
compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. It has
been observed that the indulgence of addicts in drugs is their way of shying
away from the harsh and unfair realities of life.
It is established that the main reason people get addicted
to drugs or alcohol is to escape reality, but the truth is, the absence of feelings
is no replacement for reality – the problems still remain. Addicts do not
choose to get addicted, they only choose to deny their pains momentarily.
Numbing that pain temporarily will make it worse when it is eventually felt.
The surging demand for illicit drugs has become alarming, given their
accessibility and availability on the streets and in most towns in Nigeria.
According to HealthyPlace.com website, “You don’t get over
addiction by stopping using. You recover by creating a new life where it is
easier to not use. If you don’t create a new life, then all the factors that
brought you to your addiction will catch up with you again.” Addicts must take
deliberate, concerted and uneasy steps to disabuse and condition their minds to
break free from the self-prison of addiction.
Dealers and distributors of illicit drugs are to be treated
as criminals, while the users, being the addicts are the victims. The
government should establish more drug addict treatment facilities which will
cater for the reorientation, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts in the
society.
With prevention and treatment techniques, drug addiction is
controllable, treatable and reversible. Societal stigmas toward drug addicts
must be stopped. Addicts undergoing rehabilitation should be lovingly embraced
by the society to avoid discrimination, feelings of guilt, shame, rejection and
possible relapse.
It is also very important to caution some of Nigerian
celebrities, musicians in particular, who flaunt their shameless and
irresponsible lifestyles through the displays of their drug-using lifestyles in
their songs. The videos of such songs and the lyrics encourage living on hard
drugs. These songs tend to put the use of hard drugs in good light. The songs
provide encouragement to drug addicts. Such musicians remain bad examples for
impressionable young ones in the society who may choose to tread the same path.
There must be collaboration of all segments of the society
to address this drug challenge. Parents, guardians, schools, government, health
care providers, non-governmental organisations, pharmaceutical industries and
media houses have huge roles to play together in order to curb the menace of
drug abuse. When all hands are on deck, this huge challenge of drug addiction
and abuse in the country becomes surmountable.
Kayode Ojewale writes in via kayodeojewale@gmail.com
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