A mad generation
The individual is, on the other hand, labeled as abnormal when his pattern of behavior contradicts ethical values and cultural standards. If we accept the definition of madness to mean “a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns that manifests in the violation of societal norms including becoming a danger to […]
The individual is, on the other hand, labeled as abnormal when his pattern of behavior contradicts ethical values and cultural standards. If we accept the definition of madness to mean “a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns that manifests in the violation of societal norms including becoming a danger to themselves and to others”, the behavioral pattern of many Nigerians today (men and women, young and adult) thus suggests that we are living amongst mad people. Synonyms of madness include insanity, craziness and lunacy.
For the purpose of this piece, it is important to clarify that every form of abnormal behavior indicates the presence of some forms of madness, temporary or permanent. The degree of oddity in an abnormal behavior is ordinarily determined by the extent to which an individual is guided by his common sense. Madness does not necessarily refer to a person who, due to loss of mental consciousness, is walking naked on the street. A well dressed man or woman could yet be an image of maladjusted personality or some mental illnesses. While there are different types or categories of madness, it also has various levels or degrees of acuteness depending on how significantly or otherwise the disorder has advanced.
Although I do not readily have scientific data to prove the assertion that there are more abnormal than normal people in contemporary Nigeria, the idiosyncrasy of many of our leaders as well as those in positions of authority; the unbecoming tendencies of those statutorily charged to provide security and maintain law and order; and the widespread psychosocial personality disorder in youths and children, are among other common and pervasive manifestations of madness in recent times.
Although psychosocial variables arguably have some degree of influence on all subtypes of mental illness and disorder, the major categories according to the American Psychiatric Association include substance-related disorders as may be manifest in alcoholism and withdrawal; mood disorders; anxiety disorders; factitious disorders; eating disorders; and adjustment disorders. In addition to these disorders, an individual may exhibit manic behaviors as a result of drug intoxication (notably stimulant substances such as cocaine).
It is relevant here to classify manic behaviors among Nigerians. Mania is “a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood”. Abnormal or manic behaviors can broadly be classified into two categories: the first being those whose abnormal behaviors are not necessarily attributable to influence of drugs and the second being others whose deviant behaviors are direct consequences of stimulant substances. To the first category belong leaders who speak from both sides of their mouths; leaders who remain very insensitive to the feelings of citizens; and leaders who betray the trust and confidence of those they claim to be “serving”. Little wonder that Mrs. Farida Waziri on assumption of duty as the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recommended that political officeholders should be subjected to some psychiatric tests owing to their craziness for stealing public funds.
It is also abnormal when those who are professionally trained and equipped to curb crime are themselves caught as criminals. It was in this regard that the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, recently recommended bi-annual psychiatric test for police officers because some of them have become threats to the security of lives and property of those they are statutorily charged to protect. These are indeed abnormal behaviors that only abnormal minds would consider to be normal.
As for the second category of manic behaviors, most of those who present behavioral symptoms of substance-related disorders are young boys and girls. This, of course, is a very disturbing trend. Disorders have great consequences with prospective chains of effects on the society especially when they manifest in children and youths. It is sad to observe that many of our young boys and girls in the country today have become symbols of a hopeless generation where drug addiction, truancy, theft, disobedience to constituted authorities, and general moral decadence seem to be the norm rather than the exception.
Today, many of those who find themselves in unwanted situations resort to drugs because it is easily accessible and can be purchased at will. While youths who have access to money resort to hard drugs such as cocaine; indigent drug-addicts among them take recourse to Indian hemp, solution, to cough syrup. Drug-addiction is not only common among students in the country’s tertiary institutions but also widespread among commercial motorcycle operators popularly called “Okada riders”; among touts at motor-parks; among unskilled laborers at construction sites; and more among drivers especially those who drive trailers and heavy-duty trucks. The youths are more in number. A trip by road from Zuba to Abaji (a distance of less than 100km) in the FCT would reveal to you all the substance-related and non substance-related categories of madness on Nigerian highways.
Government by its failure to address the critical needs of Nigerian children and youths implicitly provides an enabling environment for the breeding of scoundrels and criminals. The commonest form of reacting to unwanted situations especially among youths, today, is addiction to drugs because government has failed to fight a committed war against drug trafficking. Weekly Trust newspaper did cover stories, at least twice this year (July 2, 2011 and September 3, 2011) on how Nigeria is losing the battle against Indian hemp. The September 3, 2011 edition reports how cocaine is sold on wheel-barrows in the FCT.
Several other factors are responsible for the high prevalence of drug addiction among youths. These may include over-pampering by parents; broken homes evidenced by high rate of divorce cases in the country; parents fighting school authorities over disciplinary measures taken against their erring children or wards; peer group influence; and other social factors. Government appears to extol the modern culture of addiction to drugs by (1) failing to tackle the illicit sale of hard drugs; and (2) refusing to give adequate attention to welfare concerns in the rehabilitation of lunatics. If nothing is done by government to curb recourse to drugs by youths, we may likely get to a situation where our fate will be decided by a generation of mad leaders when (Allah forbids) only the mad would be seen to be sane.
We call on parents to squarely take up their responsibilities of giving their children the right type of moral training. Government should be seen to be committed to the basic needs and rights of the Nigerian child including access to quality education, primary healthcare and protection against all forms of vulnerabilities. May Allah (SWT) guide our leaders aright and give them the wisdom to take necessary steps that would stop the nurturing of a mad generation through drugs in the country, amin.