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Nigeria’s Drug Abuse Problem is Closer Than You Imagined

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Nigeria's Drug Abuse Problem is Closer Than You ImaginedA video showing the rate of drug abuse in Nigeria’s most popular city – Lagos has got people talking about an impending crisis except something is done.

Nigeria is facing an emerging threat following the rise of illegal drug laboratories in the country as there is weaker enforcement, compared to Europe and the Americas.

In 2016, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested four Mexicans and five Nigerians for allegedly running a meth lab in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

An Al Jazeera report in 2016 also said that 11 laboratories have been dismantled in the country in the last four (now five) years.

In a video released by Dr Tony Rapu, Senior Pastor of This Present House , the sad sight of people fighting to get the largest portion of crack is heartbreaking. The video also showed the men injecting heroin into their bodies.

“Unfortunately three of the men in this video have since died from drug overdose,” Tony Rapu said in the caption.

As shocking as this is, some Twitters claim crack use has been on as far back as the 90s or even farther.

Other users claim there is a base called Ipodo at Ikeja, the state’s capital that serves as base for the retail of these drugs.

Watch the video below:

A couple of months ago, a Twitter user narrated how he almost died from drug overdose in February 2016.

He said he took 1000mg of tramadol per day with codeine, 4 days a week and didn’t know he was killing himself slowly.

He said him and a couple of friends had gathered to get high. “SK, codeine, Trams, dry gin refnol, name it,” he said of the things they were taking that day until he dozed off.

He narrated how he woke up later with bruises on his lips and swollen gum. His friends looked at him as if a miracle just happened and were asking if he was OK. They told him how he woke up after dozing off and started stuttering. He was choking, shortly before falling hard on the floor – in the throes of vicious spasms.

He said most of the people in the room ran and the remaining had planned to cut his body in pieces and dispose it in the carnal if he had passed.

He said while trying to save him during the seizure, they put spoons in his mouth and the whole struggle got him the mouth injuries. He fell asleep shortly after.

That is one bold individual who lived to tell his story among many who may have been dead, or are still addicted.

While these drugs provide a short-time high, they immediately lead to depression as soon as their effect subsides. Drug abuse eventually leads to addiction, and then respiratory or heart diseases, and ultimately death, except something is done, and done fast.

The government and citizens must join hands to nip this in the bud.

If this continue to grow, in a few years, we may be fighting a war against drug abuse just like we are fighting winning against terrorism.

We have to raise awareness on the negative impacts of drug abuse, and also support the addicted. Condemnation will solve nothing, but only fuel the raging fire, and we clearly do not want to experience that.

What can you do to join the fight?

  • Get help for victims
  • Educate friends and family about drug use and abuse
  • Support rehabilitation centres – volunteer, donate and advocate for.
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