Rising Synthetic Drug Abuse Among Youths Sparks Concern in Kwara
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo Egba, Kwara State, Dr. Issa Baba Awoye, has raised alarm over the increasing use of synthetic drugs among youths, describing it as a growing public health and security crisis.
Speaking at the Second Kwara Stakeholders’ Summit on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, themed “The Neuropsychiatric Consequences of Synthetic Drug Abuse: A Clinical Perspective”, Awoye highlighted the surge in the production, trafficking, and consumption of synthetic drugs, particularly among young people.
He listed substances such as tramadol, codeine cough syrup, methamphetamine (meth), Rohypnol, and ecstasy, emphasizing their accessibility and affordability compared to traditional narcotics.
“These drugs pose significant risks to individuals and society,” he warned, attributing the worsening drug crisis to corruption within law enforcement agencies and inadequate resources for drug control and rehabilitation programs.
The summit, organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Mukail Aileru, focused on tackling the rising synthetic drug crisis in the state.
Awoye stressed that curbing synthetic drug abuse requires a multifaceted approach, including stricter law enforcement, public education, increased funding, and better access to treatment and rehabilitation services. He also called for an end to the social stigma surrounding drug addiction, urging collective efforts to address root causes like poverty and unemployment.
“We need to kill the use of psychoactive synthetic drugs before it renders us useless,” he warned.
Meanwhile, a repentant drug addict, Omoh Hussein, has alleged that the fight against illicit drug use in Nigeria is failing due to corruption within security agencies and poor targeting of hotspots.
Speaking at the summit in Ilorin, Hussein revealed that while authorities focus on raiding poor drug users in hideouts, the real consumers operate freely in hotels and other hospitality venues.
“The government is looking in the wrong direction. Security operatives comb our hideouts while the main users indulge in hotels and clubs,” he stated.
He further accused law enforcement officers, including those from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) and the police, of accepting bribes and even demanding drugs in exchange for release.
“When they arrest us, they ask if we have drugs to bail ourselves. If we do, we give. If not, they let us go after financial settlements,” Hussein revealed.
The Kwara State Government, through Aileru, reaffirmed its commitment to tackling drug abuse, particularly the synthetic drug crisis, which poses a major threat to public health, security, and the future of the youth.
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