Substance and drug abuse among youths and students in the country is becoming worrisome despite efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stem the dangerous tide, report FEMI ESAN (FUOYE), OMOJOWO AJOSANMI (AAUA) and FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU).

 

Experts  say drug abuse remains a burden and a public health concern in the country. Nigeria is seen as a centre for drug trafficking and usage mostly among the youth.

They define drug abuse or substance abuse as  the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

Nevertheless, abuse of drugs has been a cause of many criminal offences such as theft, burglary, sex work, suicide, and shoplifting, among others.

 

Damning statistics

Almost 15 per cent of the adult population in the country  (around 14.3 million people) reported a “considerable level” of use of psychoactive drug substances last year—a rate much higher than the 2016 global average of 5.6 per cent among adults. Currently, a national survey has underscored the drug problem bedevilling the country.

The survey was done by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the European Union.

According to the  survey, the highest level of drug use was recorded among people between age 25 and 39, with cannabis being the most widely used. Sedatives, heroin, cocaine and the non-medical use of prescription opioids were also noted. The survey excluded the use of tobacco and alcohol.

Excessive drug use by young people has increased as they resort  to mixing  several drugs for consumption. Experts  say “gutter water,” a cocktail of drugs, is a mix of codeine, tramadol, rohypnol, cannabis and water or juice and fruits called scutchies. Some youths  are also turning to other alternatives, such as smoking lizard parts and dung as well as  sniffing glue, petrol, sewage and urine.

Curbing the importation of opioid remains a herculean task for  authorities. Two high-profile raids at the country’s largest port few months ago culminated in the seizure of over half a billion tablets of tramadol, a pain relief drug often abused. Nevertheless, the inflow of opioids is not peculiar  to Nigeria. West, North and Central Africa also  account for 87 per cent of all pharmaceutical opiates seized globally.

ABSU student ‘jumps’ to death after using ‘Colorado’

Recently, a 400-Level Optometry student of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, died after jumping from a three-storey building. He was reported to be on drugs when he jumped from the balcony of his lodge.

It was learnt that the deceased, identified as Francis Chibuike, allegedly took a hard drug known as ‘Colorado’,  and was unable to contain its effect.

According to the National Institute of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health, ‘Colorado’ is often described as ‘synthetic marijuana’ or fake weed because some of its chemicals are like those in marijuana.

Colorado, also a street name for synthetic cannabinoid, is regarded as a psychoactive substance. It is also known as ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Amsterdam Gold’.

CAMPUS LIFE gathered that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the institution, Navy Commander ThankGod Evulobi (retd), confirmed the incident and described it as one of the consequences of hard drugs.

 

Why students, youths take hard drugs

Meanwhile, students across the country have raised the alarm over the rising spate of drug abuse. Most of them said peer pressure, depression and quest for personal pleasure were some of the reasons for indulging in drugs.

Sunday Afolabi of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), maintained that the increase in the number of students taking hard drugs was a source of concern because of its implications.

He said: “Peer pressure, social occasion, personal problems and curiosity are the main reasons behind it. Then, the pleasure one derives from taking hard drugs is incomparable to the danger attached to it; let’s join hands to deter students from drug abuse.”

Also, another student of the Department of Mass Communication, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, (FUOYE), Ibukun Olaoye, said depression was another factor that may lure students into taking drugs due to academic challenges.

Olaoye, however, claimed that the main issue about students who still took drugs was that they do it for pleasure.

“Some of them are into yahoo, the money is too much for their brain to handle, so they look for means of lavishing the money

“Remember that, on our campuses,  taking hard drugs is a status symbol. As a yahoo boy, if you’ve not graduated to the level of taking ‘Skirt’ and ‘Colorado’, you’ve not got to the peak of your career (yahoo wise),” she said.

A 200-Level student who preferred anonymity,  noted that some students found solace in taking hard drugs to get inspiration and  energy.

Olaleye Oluwatosin, a 400-Level student of the Department of Psychology, FUOYE, said: “The adverse effects of drug abuse in our society and on various communities with tertiary institutions inclusive, cannot be over emphasised.

“One of the major contributing factors that has led to geometric increase in this malevolent behaviour is social conformity.

“Then, some students engage in the behaviour to increase their libido, probably to satisfy their partner. They end up taking drugs to give them more strength to be able to go for as many rounds as possible with their partners.

“The pleasure they derive is just a temporal pleasure, and as a result of that, they will want the pleasure over and over, thus, resulting into addiction, which is very dangerous to their health.”

According to Ayodeji Solomon Fasaiye, A 200-Level  Public Administration student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), the urge to build confidence in the face of committing crime can be said to be a reason for their indulgence in  illegal substances.

Ademola Feranmi,, a 400-Level Political Science student of Osun State University, said: “A period of studentship can be a time of making irrational, impulsive decisions. It can be a time of living in the now, without consideration for the consequences that may follow.

“There are many reasons students get involved with drugs, and unfortunately, there are many instances in which the root of substance use goes much deeper than “experimentation.”

“Many students abuse drugs or alcohol to get high. They are looking for thrill, an intensified feeling that they cannot obtain through simple pleasures like food or exercise. This is where the addiction cycle starts to kick in.

” Research has shown that drugs interact with the way our brain works, and the way our body experiences pleasure. When drugs are used, the brain creates up to 10 times the normal amount of feeling a person should experience,” he said.

Vivian Iheme, a 400-Level student of University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), said: ” I don’t take drugs because I believe there are others things to excite me outside drugs. But then, for students who take drugs, I believe there are a number of reasons contributing to it: depression, societal or environmental influence, etc. The painful thing is that most of these students feel that drugs help them grow numb to their issues while some of them want to just feel high; but the end results in most cases are devastating, that’s if one is alive to even tell the story.”

For Christian Onyisi of Yaba College of Technology (YABA TECH), many students and youths resort to taking drugs to extraordinary things to avoid pain.

“They desire  to show their friends they are strong, without considering the after effect. They take it to get high and not to feel pain for a while. The truth is that even alcohol is in this category and while we try to stop hard drugs, alcohol should also be stopped,” he said.

Ileromira Elizabeth, another student of  AAUA said: ” ‘Colorado’ is one of the hard drugs that the government has banned due to the high psychotropic substances in it. In spite of all these,  drug addicts, youths and teenagers continue to consume it and other banned substances. Drug dealers ‘feed’ them with the belief that taking ‘Colorado’ will make them have retentive memory for them to excel academically.

” Some drug vendors convince youths that God created herbs and leaves for man’s consumption and not for decoration, just to sell their products.

“Also, Nigerian hip hop songs promote the use of Colorado and other hard drugs. Though the government has banned the use of these drugs and attached penalties to them,  there’s need to censor promotion of drugs in music videos by artistes. The lyrics of songs and music videos make teenagers think there is societal acceptance of these substances,” she said.

A strategic approach needed to tackle menace. A non-governmental organisation, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry, has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to develop a more strategic approach in tackling substance abuse.

Director-General of the foundation, a medical practitioner, Dr. Dokun Adedeji, noted that the anti-drug agency needed to double it efforts to  checkmate drug abuse in the country. He said  those in illegal  drug business have devised  new strategies  in supplying the drugs, while  the rate of  consumption  has increased.

He charged government to provide alternative crops to communities that cultivate cannabis. This, he said, would  change their mindset.

“Drug abuse is a global issue and cannot be legalised in Nigeria. It is rather unfortunate that food and beverages sold to schoolkids are now being laced, and the society needs to wake up from slumber. The demand rate increases daily and needs an urgent approach to cater for the spread among youths,” he said.

Adedeji praised the NDLEA boss, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd). He added  that there was progress in the agency.

“Despite this impressive progress recorded by the agency, the supply of drugs has taken another turn as more tricky measures are being adopted by the drug peddlers to destroy our youths.

“Nigeria is on the brink of an epidemic, as far as substance abuse is concerned. A lot of collaboration is needed to curb this prevailing menace that is damaging the future of our teeming youths,” he said.

According to him, statistics shows that the global prevalence average for substance use was 5.6 per cent, while Nigeria’s prevalence rate was 14 per cent – almost triple the global average. An estimated 14.4 per cent of the Nigerian population, with people between 15 and 64 years of age, are involved in drug abuse.

Adedeji also stressed the  need for youths to desist from drug abuse, among other vices.

 

The messy affair between Super TV boss and the 21-year-old University of Lagos (UNILAG) student, Chidinma Ojukwu, which eventually led to the murder of the former, has raised concerns among students over the fast-eroding values and morals as well as the culture of having ‘Sugar Daddy’ and ‘Side Chick’ in the country’s tertiary institutions, report EMMANUEL OCHAYI (UNILAG) FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU), OMOJOWO AJOSANMI (AAUA) and HANNAH AJAO (UNILORIN).

It is no longer news that Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-Level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), allegedly murdered her ‘Sugar Daddy’, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.

Ever since the news broke, observers have expressed their displeasure as to  why such a girl would get embroiled in a seedy affair with a man old enough to be her father. The deceased was not also spared for being morally deficient.

 

Travails of a ‘Side Chick’

 

When quizzed, the culprit, a native of Arochukwu in Abia State, revealed she met Ataga four months ago through a friend.

Recalling their last moments, she said: “On Monday, we were together, drinking and smoking.We had fun. Later I went out to get food for both of us. On Tuesday, he tried to make advances at me, but I told him I was tired and he became violent. Eventually, he had his way.

“Towards afternoon, we ordered for smoke and blue fees together, that was what we took. We ate food and became high. I wasn’t happy with the first one he did. So, I sat on my own, smoking, drinking and eating. He was on the couch but later came to where I sat watching television. I told him I wasn’t happy with what he did the first time.

“ I told him, ‘you don’t help or assist me but yet, you just want to be playing with me around’. He gave me his ATM card and said I could go and withdraw any amount I wanted. He also gave me the PIN.

“But I told him that was not what I meant by assistance. He became violent and tried to get to me, but I resisted him and tried to defend myself. At some point, he hit my head on the wall and I retaliated. He held me and was choking me as I leaned on the cabinet. In defence, I stretched out my hand and collected a knife and stabbed him in the neck. I had attempted severally to leave before then, but he stopped me.”

However, the 21-year-old has started showing remorse after attributing her actions to the  effect of hard drugs and smoking.

She said: “I started smoking after I got into UNILAG. I regret killing Mr. Ataga. I don’t know what my future holds but I don’t want to die. Please, I don’t want to die because of this case. I have not killed before.

Read Also: Why killings, violence returned to Ibadan

“I was just trying to comport myself to answer questions during the parade and not that I am not showing remorse. I totally regretted everything I did and I am sorry.

“Mr Ataga’s family, I am deeply sorry for what I did. If I had my life back, I wouldn’t do anything like that. I am deeply sorry and I hope you forgive me.”

 

Students on erosion of values; culture of ‘Sugar Daddy’

 

Students across tertiary institutions believe that moral decadence in our  society did not creep in overnight. They also lament that the culture of having ‘Sugar Daddy’ would continue, citing many reasons.

For Sarah Ben, a 200-Level Chemical Engineering student of University of Uyo, the immoral act (old men having sexual relations with young girls)  should be discouraged.

“I heard the story and I just shook my head. What about the man’s family and the girl’s parents? What will they do or say? It’s just appalling. This heinous act should be discouraged because the more it keeps happening, the more the younger generation sees nothing wrong in it; and the most annoying thing is that, not only are the young girls involved, but the mothers, also. Just for the highlights, too, sugar mommies exist,” she said.

Ben Agoha, a 400-Level student of Abia State University, said: “On the culture of having “Sugar Daddy”, first, I believe it is  still on and  increasing daily, owing to the fact that most students in our varsities are needy, hence, they subject themselves to such act in  to cater for their needs; second,  greed and being discontented with what they are being given.”

James Michael, a student of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, described  the whole affair as ‘immoral’, adding that men should learn  to have self-control.

“It is  a lesson to  both parties. Regardless of the reason given for the death of Mr. Ataga, there is absolutely nothing right in the whole thing. Imagine how the wife and children of the deceased will feel.

‘’Then, what will the parents of the girl in question do? No girl should frolic around with any woman’s husband and men should learn self control,” he said.

Decrying the situation, Ifeoma Richard, a 400-Level student of ABSU, said: “Having Sugar Daddy, especially in our universities, has become a norm to our young girls, who probably come from poor backgrounds and are easily swayed by the enticing words of these elderly men. These gullible girls give sex to these men in exchange for money. Funny enough, these girls can have more than one ‘Sugar Daddy’. Honestly, this act is immoral and wrong.”

Another student, Blessing Ikuomola, a 500-Level Law student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, wants parents to work their socks off and train their children to be morally and spiritually upright. This, she said, would ensure sound character in children.

Afieajoye Tubosun, a 300-Level Political Science student of AAUA, said: “We need to tackle this issue of Sugar Daddy before it boomerangs. It is an ill that has become a norm as a result of the moral decadence in our  society.

“Such relationship is not safe for the girls. Some of these girls might be used for rituals. They might get infected with STDs and STIs. Such relationships can as well have a psychological effect on the girls.

“I think our various communities, familie, religious organisations, the media, NGOs and others need to come together to put an end to the menace.”

Samuel Sobande, a 100-Level Chemistry student, UNILAG, many  female students believe they cannot survive without having sexual relations with elderly men.

“I was shocked. For you to kill a man you just met four months ago, who is also your benefactor, is terrible. Sadly, many students think they will not survive in the university if they do not go into such act,” he said.

Weah Nyennoh Vilisa,  a 400-Level, Mass Communication student at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said: “Some girls have everything they want from home but  they want more. The ones that want to show off will rather follow married men because of what they will get. But the men are to blame, too. Why would a married man go after a girl young enough to be his daughter?”

Abegunde Temitope Samuel, a 500-Level  Quantity Surveying student of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) warns young girls against living above their means, stressing that the common expression ‘Small girl big God’ is only a fallacy if they don’t act with moderation.

His words: “These girls are doing themselves more harm than good by engaging in such acts. Also, they should learn to live by their means, as it is imperative for the society, too, to rise and condemn the act.”

On his part, Folarin Samuel, a 400-Level student of UNILAG, blames the act on the desire to enjoy a flamboyant life despite being financially incapable.

A student, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Some parents do not care about the well-being of their children as long as they can provide them the necessary money that would help them in institutions. In fact, some do not bother to check on their wards  in  school. It is expected of a parent to regularly check on the school, department and house their children live in the school; to investigate how their children  attend classes and their lifestyle.”

Another student of AAUA, Atere Helen Funmilayo, said: ”The killing of Ataga  portrayed the suspect as totally unfair and heartless.

“Women running after men that are old enough to be their fathers is quite disgusting. A situation where the female child isn’t properly trained, she might resort to sleeping around with married men for money. This is common on our campuses.

“Having  a Side Chick is not to be encouraged. If a man knows he can’t stick to one woman, he should marry as many wives as possible, that, at least, would free him from being starved of intimacy.”

A 100-Level student of UNILAG, who prefers to be anonymous, blames the act on peer pressure.

She said: ”Ninety per cent of students  who have Sugar Daddy were influenced by their peers in the school. I am sure the majority of the  students involved in the act  are from good homes and were influenced when they came into the school.”

Lateef Sodiq Olamilekan, a 300-Level student of  UNILORIN, said: “Well, I will say both are to blame. It is actually not morally upright for a married man to be having an affair outside marriage. To the girl, I can say her parents might also be at fault, a well-trained child will not engage in such bad act of killing a fellow human, even if the CEO breached the agreement they had, it did not warrant killing him.

“The issue of female students having an affair, to me, has two angles to it. First, it’s greed. We just have to be satisfied with the little our parents are giving us, But,  nowadays, everyone wants to wear branded dresses; use latest iPhone and that’s part of the social ills.

“Also, some parents are not even concerned about their children in school, no check up, no follow up; some don’t even sponsor their children again. It’s the children that are sponsoring themselves.”

Another student who preferred anonymity said: ” The economic situation of the country can also be blamed for this. Where it is difficult for the government to provide a safe environment for local businesses to thrive. Where only the rich have access to education than the poor; where school fees are being increased on daily basis. These conditions may lead to self help on the part of a  student who wants to achieve his/her goal by hook or by crook.

Some students may want to follow the advice of their friends. They want to belong to the classic group in the school. Because some of their friends are using the latest  phones and other material things, they don’t want any one to make them look inferior. Hence, they engage the service of a man who is older, rich and who they think can provide for all their needs. It doesn’t matter whether the man is married or whether the source of his wealth is pure or not.”