No thanks to drug abuse, more youths in Nigeria are mentally ill than ever before
85% of mentally ill Nigerians are youth belonging to the 18-38 years age bracket, this was revealed by Dr. Aliyu Abubakar of Ahmed Bello University, (ABUTH) while delivering a paper titled “Drug Abuse in Nigeria, Causes, Effects and Solution. at a sensitisation workshop for youths organised by Bizara Youth Development Association in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to him, the major cause of mental challenge has gone beyond drug abuse as the youth have adopted other means including inhalation lizard feces, putting their noses into pit toilets, smoking matches, smoking dried horse feces and mixing lizard feces with dye powder.
He noted that in the United States, drug abuse is a common phenomenon affecting about 10% of the population. Globally, about 5% of the world’s population is suffering from drug abuse.
He recalled that in Nigeria, it was recently reported that about three million bottles of cough syrup containing substance of abuse codeine is consumed daily in Kano State and about six million bottles consumed in the North-West.
Dr. Abubakar added that in 2016, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported that about 40% of Nigerian youths engaged in drug-abuse.
The medical doctor reiterated that the consequences of drug abuse include mental disorder, liver cirrhosis, lethargy and cardiovascular disorder among others.
Dr. Aliyu added that those abusing drugs include school dropouts, those that engage in cultism, violence, armed robbery, thuggery, rape, lawlessness, murders and are usually culturally disorientated.
In his remark, Mallam Yahaya Nuhu, chairman of Bizara Youth Development Association, enjoined parents to monitor their children movement very closely and those they relate with.
He enjoined government to introduce stiffer punishment for drug dealers, fish them out and punish them accordingly.
He also enjoined the youth to be cautious of bad peer group influence and always ensure that they serve as worthy ambassadors of their families and communities.
“Members of the society also have a role to play towards curbing the menace of drug abuse, especially by monitoring activities of the youths. Additionally, community members can advise parents where necessary, and also supply vital information to relevant authorities for prompt action,” he said.