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Tag: Substance abuse

  • ‘How to address substance abuse’

    ‘How to address substance abuse’

    To address shortcoming in the fight against substance abuse, experts have said family involvement will aid recovery, as families are powerful resources for enhancing treatment and recovery among youths with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

    That was the submission of stakeholders at the Sixth National Conference/Ago Process ISSUP (Nigeria) and Nigeria Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals, in Lagos.

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    National President, Dr Martin Agwogie, said strengthening family support system was crucial in preventing, treating and recovery of substance use disorders.

    He said families play a pivotal role in individuals ‘’with these issues, and by enhancing involvement and support mechanisms. “we can create a more effective response to substance use. The focus on demand reduction and understanding helps the family to play an effective role in controlling psychoactive substances.’’

  • ‘How to arrest drug, substance abuse’

    The rise in substance and drug abuse in the country has no respect for gender, tribe, religion or financial status. This worrisome trend puts the present and future of our nation in serious danger. Thus, all stakeholders – government and non-government alike – need to rise to the occasion with noble and worthwhile means as much as possible to curb the scourge.”

    This was the submission of the World Drugs Day symposium organised by the Mountain Top Rehabilitation Centre (MTRC) of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

    In his keynote speech, the General Overseer, Dr D. K. Olukoya, who was represented by the Assistant General Overseer, Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahan, made it clear that there is a vacuum in every man which makes him/her seek satisfaction in things like drugs, work, food and religion, among others. Rather than seeking drugs, Olukoya urged that people should seek God.

    “These vacuums can also be filled and satisfied by God with correct knowledge and relationship. Behind every physical manifestation is s spiritual influence, which is a critical factor to be considered with every other good effort in the fight against drug and substance abuse. The rage of substance and drug abuse in our society today is no respecter of persons. We need to go all out, and in fact all hands must be on deck to arrest the monster of substance and drug abuse.”

    Citing UNODC report on National Drug Survey (2018, a psychiatrist from Neuro Psychiatrist Hospital Aro, Abeokuta ), Dr Amosun Sunday, who was one of the panelist observed that 22 per cent of people aged 15-64 have been involved in the abuse of one drug/substance.

    The seven-man panel also featured Dr Leke Onasanya; Mr Akin Gabriel of the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba; Mr Adebayo Otunaga and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dr Richard Adebayo.

    On his part, Dr Adebayo, a consultant psychiatrist, said although users of cannabis, which is the most abused substance, claim they experience mood elevation and super-motivation, he warned that prolonged use “alters the brain functions, damage the mind and other vital organ of the human body”.

    He added: “There is a great need for the enforcement of exisiting laws and creation of new laws to stem the dynamic tide of the menance, all related agency should also form a stronger synergy NDLEA, NAFDAC, FMOH, NMA together with law enforcement who should work more on finding out and crippling the sources of illicit drugs and related substances.

    “Treatment centre should be scaled up by government, NGOs and faith-based organization, like MTRC, CADAM and Wellspring, etc. with increase awareness and sensitisation programmes targeted towards youth , school at all levels, saying prevention is greater and better than cure.”

    The programme had in attendance secondary school pupils, representatives of permanent secretaries of Ministry of Youth & Social Development and Education, UNODC, National Bureau of Statistics and the public. MTRC has as its coordinator, Olushola Tejuosho.

     

     

  • David Jones sings against substance abuse in Imo

    Students of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, were thrown into euphoria recently, when singer and award-winning actor, David Jones David, arrived in the school to perform.

    This was part of activities of the MTN-led Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) tour of Imo State.

    The students flooded the Star Hall at IMSU to attend the three-hour event centered on the perils of substance abuse and its devastating effects. Following exciting dramatic performances by the Riveting group, dance skits from students and ASAP dancers, David Jones took to the stage and then the deafening screams from the students began.

    After chanting the lines to the singer’s hit songs such as ‘Hello Doctor’, ‘Gbana Na Bastard’, etc, the singer wrapped up with the popular, hard-hitting, ‘Onye Ara’. The students sang along to the song!

    As part of the activities, students were trained by experts and professionals in drug-related fields such as psychiatrists, psychologists and members of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

  • Expert seeks training on substance use prevention in curricula

    Founder and Executive Director, Global Initiative on Substance Abuse, (GISA) Dr Martin Agwogie, is seeking improved efforts towards mitigating the effect of substance abuse among youths from secondary to tertiary levels by ensuring that authorities include it in the curricula.

    According to Agwogie, this is necessary because of the frightened report on the just-released National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health in Nigeria, in which one out of seven Nigerians youth between ages 15 and 64 at least use one substance abuse.

    This, Agwogie fears, is higher than the global average of 1 out of 20 according (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) world drug abuse.

    Agwogie stated this on the sideline of the one week training for practitioners on the universal prevention curriculum (UPC) for substance use disorders organised by GISA in collaboration with Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme, in Lagos.

    He said: “Globally it (substance abuse) is one out of 20, but in Nigeria it is one out of seven which means there is a problem that we need to collectively address as a nation, community, parents and individuals.”

    Agwogie, who is also the National Co-ordinator for Universal Prevention Curriculum on Substance Use disorders for Nigeria, also added that prevention can only be done through evidence base, a kind of method he said is uncommon in Nigeria.

    “This is the reason we are having this training, to be able to equip people in different sectors in providing or acquiring prevention skills and to be able to prevent the use of substance.

    “It is a training using the United States government developed material for substance use prevention. We are training practitioners, who will provide evidence base prevention for substance use.

    “And how do we do this?  The curriculum is in different tracks and the practitioner are trained according to their specialisation,” he explained.

    Agwogie, however, added that prevention should target age bracket so that the trained personnel will be able to flow with them and through this the target audience would receive the message that would help wade off substance of abuse.

    “Moreso as they develop both physically, cognitive, morally, emotionally and socially, there is also the need to also build their intrinsic motivation that will last longer.

    “That is why we have different tracks like school base for school environment, family base for family, work place for offices and community base tracks among others in order to prevent substance use in the as well to reach out to all individuals nationwide.

    He, however, warned against the passing of wrong messages to people through scare tactics, saying it has aggravate most cases of substance abuse.

    Agwogie also urged the society and the government not to be spontaneous in their reactions to cases of substance abuse among youths because policies made at that point do more harm than good.

    He said his office is open to collaborations across secondary to tertiary levels.

    “GISA is ready to collaborate with any organisation or non-organisation to address this and you will agree with me that the National Education Research and Development Council involves stakeholders in developing curriculum and we are willing to go into collaboration.

  • MTN kicks against substance abuse

    Substance abuse is slowly destroying the next generation of youth, MTN Foundation has said, adding that it is with that grim realisation that it, along with various organisations and associations launched the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) at George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    ASAP is a multi-stakeholder initiative that will deliver interventions and fieldwork campaigns that reduce the rate of first-time users of addictive substances within the 10 to 25-year age range.

    The event was opened by the Chairman of MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, who said the ASAP initiative to is significant in Nigeria’s ecosystem due to the constant rise in the prevalence of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.

    The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, said it was designed to save the young ones, the future. She cited the former Director General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Otunba Ipinmisho, who stated in a 2016 interview, that 40 per cent of Nigerian youths are on hard drug abuse.

    She said: “Then we heard from various stakeholders, (Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Association of Community Pharmacists, Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, etc), who gathered to witness the launch and we were able to glean a wealth of knowledge from them.

    “We had to sit up when the room was darkened in order for a former addict to tell her story. By the time she was 15 she had become a ‘professional’ in substances and had begun dating men in their forties. She became a shadow of herself and at one point she contemplated suicide. It dawned on us all, the reality. Afterwards, we heard riveting experiences from the stakeholders. And we sobered even more,” she said.

    Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, recalled how a parent called her at 3:00am to inform her that he was rushing to her with his child in the car – the man’s son had overdosed on a substance and was delirious.

    Beyond substance abuse, Public Health Consultant, Dr. Atinuke Onayiga, said strong parental influence stopped her from using substances when she encountered them. Onayiga said this was an important factor that parents have to bear in mind.

    “When we heard that a 2017 study showed that at least three million bottles of codeine were sold daily, in only two states in Nigeria – we gaped. That is the reality,” she said.

    “ASAP’s initial phase is expected to have a six-month duration, for numerous activities in various regions around the country and we are humbled by what the initiative has set out to achieve.

  • ‘Substance abuse is wiping away our leaders of tomorrow’

    There is urgent need for the Senate to pass the Mental Health Bill as that is the way to address the substance abuse, and other mental health  issues tearing the nation’s fabric apart.This was the position of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) at this year’s annual Adeoye  Lambo Lecture/Presidential Night/Dinner.

    According to its President, Dr.Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, drug abuse is changing the fortunes of youth across the nation and it is only the Bill, when turned into law that can protect both the patient and the psychiatrist. He added that cough syrup with codeine still remained the number one substance being abused by youths, despite the regulation.

    “Government can do something better in controlling the menace of codeine cough syrup. We are also challenging scientists and researchers to do more on the prevalence of codeine cough syrup across the country. Generally, substance abuse belongs to one group. The list is endless.”

    Expatiating on the impacts on the nation as a whole, Dr. Sheikh said research has shown that youths who abuse substance are between 18 to 35 years, adding that this core fabric constitutes the workforce of the nation. “They represent the future of this country. Substance abuse is trying to wipe out our leaders of tomorrow, and something urgently must be done,” he added.

    The psychiatrist said there is a problem of brain drain as well, “the experts that are supposed to deal with this matter are leaving the country in droves. This is due to many reasons, especially lack of good working conditions, joblessness after graduation, or training and lack of laws that will ensure adequate mental healthcare in Nigeria.”

    Dr. Sheikh said Lagos is known as the centre of excellence, and the association is awaiting it to take the lead in signing its bill on mental health into law. “The Lagos State Assembly has passed it. We are all awaiting the signature of the governor on it, so it becomes a law. We appeal to the state governor to kindly append his signature. The bill when it turns into law is to protect the mentally ill, the relations, and the healthcare givers.”

    He said the National Assembly is also being appealed to on the same subject matter at the federal level.

    “A bill on mental health and substance abuse bill is with the Senators awaiting their passage. Without that bill,we are still far behind. That bill will revolutionise care for the mentally ill. All and sundry should begin to mount pressure on the National Assembly to pass the bill. That way, the rising spate of suicide across the country will stop,” said Dr. Sheikh.

    The guest lecturer, Dr RahmanLawal, who spoke on ‘Prescription drug abuse menace and how to salvage the current generation’, said “Over-the-counter drugs with substances that alter human mind are mostly abused, and some non-pharmaceutical products. Parents, wards, and all Nigerians must watch carefully, and report cases to the nearest mental health facility”, said Dr.Lawal.

    Highlighting the problem of brain drain in mental health, its impact and solutions, a psychiatrist in private practice, Dr.MemunahKadiri, said the theme for this year’s AGM of the APN is coming at a time when the country is losing a lot of our doctors to more developed countries like UK, USA, among others. “To become a consultant psychiatrist, you must have gone to medical school for six years plus depending on many factors. Then have a one year houseman-ship program and serve the country via NYSC for another one year as long as you are below 30 years old.

    “After this process, you then proceed to a center that carries out the residency program and this will last between four to six years depending on how fast you pass the required examinations to become a consultant in any of the colleges (National and/or West Africa). In total, we are looking at 12-14years or more to qualify as a consultant.

    “With the amount of years injected in personal development which covers the human and capital development of any nation, some of these consultants go for years without proper employment by any state or federal government due to lack of jobs.

    “Yet, the current statistics on the Nigerian doctors shows that of the 75,000 doctors registered with Nigeria Medical Association, only 35,000 are practising in Nigeria. This means that 48 percent reside here while 52 percent live outside the country. 88 percent of our Nigerian doctors are currently looking for jobs outside the shores of the country,” she revealed.

    According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria needs 237,000 doctors to meet the ratio of 1:1000 (1 doctor to 1 thousand Nigerians). With the growing population at three percent annually, she said we need to produce 10,000 Nigerian doctors annually in the next 50 years. “The healthcare sector in Nigeria needs help and very urgent before things will fall apart. The few doctors in Nigeria are overworked, underpaid, overlooked, underserved, and sometimes over abused despite the deployable conditions they have to work.

    “So, the brain drain is bound to occur and the impact is very negative on the common Nigerian. A number of our doctors, not only psychiatrists, leave the country daily for greener pasture and if nothing is done urgently, we will face severe shortage of doctors and this of course will affect our health care sector, meaning more morbidity and mortality.”

     

  • Youths and substance abuse

    Sir: In a research published in Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Health in 2014, Hamisu Mamman, Ahmad Tajuddin PhD and Lim Hooi Liam PhD discovered that drug abuse and addiction was more prevalent in northern Nigeria. Professor Nelson Ochekpe, a professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in University of Jos while delivering lecture at a sensitization lecture on eradication of vices by students of higher institutions stated that research findings showed that 60% of substance abuse occurs in north. Sadly, in all these, youths below 35 years are mostly affected. In their quest to get high they are hooked to marijuana, codeine, tramadol, amphetamine, heroine, glue, rohypnol and other psychotropic substances. As for illicit drugs, there is always one for anyone depending on one’s financial and social standing. This is one of the major reasons this problem have become widespread. Youths from various backgrounds resort to the use of drugs for various reasons and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary which exposed the dire drug problem was impactful because of the international dimension. But for people living in Nigeria especially the northern states, nothing was new since they have witnessed the exponential rise and spread of this problem over time.

    All over the world, illicit drugs are known to fuel crime. Troops fighting the insurgents in Northeast have been recovering large quantities of assorted psychotropic substances. Just like bandits, kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers are known to use them to be able to perpetuate the kind of beastly and heinous crimes that are fast becoming a daily occurrence. One kidnapper in Ondo state was reported to have gone into coma during an operation due to an overdose of tramadol and Police said that he died on the ninth day despite all efforts to save him.

    The challenge of tackling this menace is enormous and a systematic and holistic approach is most suitable because there is no quick fix. The total ban and crack down on manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical preparation with codeine as an active ingredient by the government is a step in the right direction. However, this alone will not solve the problem the same way that smoking of marijuana have almost replaced cigarette among the youth in spite of the fact that it has been an illicit drug that the law prescribes stiff penalties for its possession.

    It has been established that Nigeria has one of the highest number of out-of-school children in the world and devising a sustainable means of getting these children out the street back to school will be a bold step in tackling the problem. The political class and opinion leaders must show good example and leadership. The practice of exploiting the youth for anti- social behaviours bordering on violence and criminality for selfish interest of highly placed individuals in our society must be stopped. This sort of action has become a ‘mentoring’ ground for the youth and those already caught in this sordid web.

     

    • Oliver Ejike Uja, Abuja.
  • ‘Substance abuse on the rise in Kwara’

    ‘Substance abuse on the rise in Kwara’

    The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kwara State government have said substance abuse was on the rise in the state, but they have also resolved to stamp it out.

    Speaking at a-one day seminar in Ilorin, the state capital, Head, Drugs Demand Reduction Unit of the agency, Friday Oluwi described drug and substance abuse in the state as worrisome.

    He said, “Drug abuse situation in Kwara state is worrisome, people abuse different kinds of drugs. There are so many substances that are being abused. There are some illicit drugs. These drugs are for normal treatment of ailments but people now use them for abuse sake just to get high, for purposes the drugs are not meant for. And producers are selling, people are dying.”

    Mr. Oluwi, who said that the agency had entered into agreement with the state government to tackle the menace, said the agency has been rehabilitating clients.

    “We appeal, lecture and sensitise people to know the danger inherent in drug abuse and consequences of abusing drugs. We appeal. We don’t see abusers as criminals, rather we see them as victims that need help. If they continued in that way and we don’t bring them back in love they may never recover. So we do what we call counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. And we carry out public enlightenment campaign.

    “As at today, the federal government brought manpower. The states are supposed to use us. So, if the states can come in to assist it will bring better result.

    “Our success rate is 80 per cent in Kwara State. And by UN assessment, we top the chart. Why is it so? For every 10 person discharged, we expect two back. Why would they come back? The nature of the drug the person was abusing. The nature of his system or the way the person is made up, facilities available for the rehabilitation, then level of cooperation of the family. Most families, when they are recovering, don’t want to take them back. They don’t trust them any longer.

    “Currently, there are 25 clients with us on rehabilitation. We have discharged about 32 persons. Age range is between 20 and 45 and recently someone of 53 years came, but since rehabilitation move is not by force, he said he does not belong there. He told his people that he couldn’t stay. The opinion of person coming for rehabilitation is always considered.”

    Mr. Oluwi added, saying, “For those who have never used drugs, let them not use it, while those in it should retrace their steps. But rehabilitation is not cheap. The minimum period you will be with us in NDLEA is three months. For the 90 days, the parents will have to be responsible for the feeding and the medication.

    “Most parents, when they come around, discover that they have to play that role and sometimes they live with their problems. So in other states, the assistance like feeding of clients is being provided by state governments. But we have not received such as at now. The commissioner for health has just invited me to see him for possible intervention. We hope something would come out of that.”

    In a remark, a sociologist and convener of the programme, Queen Nimat Siaka said her encounter with robbery gangs twice who were predominantly youths prompted her get involved in the project to tackle the menace.

    “They are frustrated and they get involved in drugs. They engage in drugs to commit dastardly crimes. So, we mobilise and sensitise youths against drug abuse. We take the campaign across states. We also refer clients to rehabilitation centres. Despite challenges encountered we keep on,” she said.