Drug abuse among youths in Nigeria is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society. According to the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col Buba Marwa (rtd), the use of illicit drugs among young persons of school age in Nigeria has taken a worrisome dimension. A large percentage of young persons of school age have been found to use all kinds of psychoactive substances including unconventional concoctions and inhalants. Marwa stated in June that protecting Nigerians from the devastating effects of substance abuse is key to national development.
According to the NDLEA boss, a national drug-use survey revealed that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years had used a psychoactive substance while one in seven persons had used a drug other than tobacco. He added that the effects of drugs were very devastating, including the destruction of major body organs such as the respiratory system, kidney, liver, reproductive organ; brain damage, memory loss as well as psychological effects like depression, anxiety and loss of concentration.
The 2018 Nigeria Drug Use Survey put Nigeria’s drug-use prevalence at over three times the global average, with users being predominantly young people between the ages of 16 and 34. There are over 14.8 million Nigerians who have used drugs with three million of them living with a drug-use disorder.
Country representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Dr Oliver Stolpe at a forum said there are projections that the drug-use prevalence in Africa would increase by 40 per cent by 2030 and for a country like Nigeria with a teeming youth population, this is alarming.
“All hands must be on deck to reverse this negative trend. Our youths are our future and the current indices do not augur well for the future of the country,” Stolpe said.
Lifestyle of Nigerian Hiphop Musicians
Apart from other causes of drug-abuse prevalence among youths, a section of Nigerian musicians is fuelling this malaise, displaying the smoking of weed and other illicit substances on social media.
Nigerian musicians are adored both home and abroad on account of the rising wave of acceptance of Afrobeats music in the world. Grammy award-winner Burnaboy, Davido, Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Asake, Rema, Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Fire BoyDML, Bella Shmurda and others have sold their music and brand beyond the shores of the African continent.
Also, female artistes namely Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Tems, Teni, Simi and Ayrr Starr are some artistes that have gotten global appeal and this has translated to material wealth for them. Because of the thousands of dollars which translates to millions of naira, raked in by Nigerian musicians on tours and the brazen display of material wealth by such musicians on the social media, many, especially youths, think music and entertainment are easy paths to fame and riches and want to emulate them.
It is a known fact that secular hiphop and rap music is associated with smoking, violence and sex. Hence, visuals and pictures of some of these artistes smoking weed (marijuana) or other illicit substances are seen in their music videos and gets to the social media. Pictures of Wizkid, Burnaboy, Olamide, Reminisce, Phyno and others smoking these substances are all over the internet and these can get into the sub-conscious of young persons who are in school or out-of-school.
Veterans speak on effects of drug abuse
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, Keji Hamilton, who was one of the members of Fela Boys and Band, said he was addicted to drugs, cocaine, heroin and other illicit substances while living in Kalakuta, but now a clergyman and advocate of change. He noted that the effect of drugs is devastating as it does not make people who take it to think clearly.
“Drugs is a mind-bender. I was a victim of drug abuse as a youth when I was in Fela’s shrine, having dropped out from the University of Ibadan during my first year and got to Fela because of my interest in music. I thank God for saving me and giving me a mandate to save addicts. Many of the things I am doing now is to help drug addicts to stop drugs. It’s not even good that you do drugs. There is nothing you will gain out of it. This thing affects the brain. Part of the brain is called the frontal cortex, which is the place you use for thinking, reasoning, decision-making and planning. Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine… all these modern drugs they consume now – affect the frontal cortex. And what happens, it means you cannot think correctly no matter your level of education.
“The reason why young people take to drugs is multifaceted. The economy is bad and frustration sets in when you cannot achieve basic things of life. All these things disturb the mind. Drugs bend the mind and make the victim not to think straight. It makes people think they are alright. Drugs make people think freedom. It makes people think that ‘I should be left alone to do what I wanna do. Nobody should question me.’ And if all OF us want to be in this world without being questioned, the world will be in chaos,” he stated.
According to Amos Mcroy Jegg, a veteran reggae musician and one of the pioneers of Jastix Band that brought out the late reggae star, Majek Fashek, intake of illicit drugs and alcoholic substances by young persons is a generational phase thing and not particular to the younger generation alone.
“My take on this is that it is a generational phase thing. The generation before ours kept saying our generation was going down the hill in many aspects and I am sure the generation before our fathers said the same thing about our fathers’ generation.
“The world is evolving, coupled with the current level of technological advancement in our today’s world which was only a wishful thinking in our formative years. Irrespective of the profession, we live in the same world, community and environment so we are bound to experience the good, the bad and the ugly side of human advancement in all aspects as it is obtainable today.
“Talking about musicians knowingly or unknowingly promoting drug abuse with their videos, I would say it is not peculiar to this generation. We are only alarmed because today’s entertainers have access to far and wider audience than in the past due to the current technological advancement and its attendant opportunities to today’s world.
“Moreover, these are also part of the fulfillment of the end time prophecy as forewarned by our Lord, Master, Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ himself. So, these things are bound to happen. Hence, we must all admit that things will not get better until the second coming of Christ,” he said.
Speaking on the solution, Keji Hamilton whose real name is Sule Shuaibu from Edo State before he got to Fela’s Kalakuta, noted that even some elites and politicians are on drugs and this is a lifestyle thing and tells on the personal life later. He canvassed for a holistic approach as well as treating the victim from the spiritual angle as well.
According to a report on drug abuse in Nigeria published in 2021 titled, “The Burden of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Epidemiological Studies and Drug Laws,” findings from epidemiological studies on drug abuse in Nigeria has demonstrated that the burden of drug abuse is still high despite the existing drug laws, policies, and strategies for prevention. It said measures to reduce the burden should involve the community, government, and religious bodies. Preventive measures should target the youths, the students, identify sources of the drugs, reasons and risk factors associated with drug abuse in Nigeria.
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