Before new psychoactive substances destroy Nigerians

This means that the substance can change the way a user thinks, perceives and acts under a given situation.Well, enough of the academics! New psychoactive substances have emerged amongst users, and they are gaining popularity. While the use of cannabis sativa, also known as wee-wee, ganja, weed, etc, in Nigeria, is almost curtailed in many […]

This means that the substance can change the way a user thinks, perceives and acts under a given situation.
Well, enough of the academics! New psychoactive substances have emerged amongst users, and they are gaining popularity. While the use of cannabis sativa, also known as wee-wee, ganja, weed, etc, in Nigeria, is almost curtailed in many countries through legislations, the new psychoactive substances have not been legislated upon yet; probably because they have not been known before now.
Some of the new substances are not imagination-friendly (they can make you get on your wick). These include the smoking of cow dung and dried lizard. This practice has outdone legislation already because our lawmakers will not legislate on cow dung and lizard. No, they won’t.
Also, it is surprising to know that people inhale gasses that come out of latrine pits, as well as smoke dried and ground human excreta, all in an attempt to get high. The laws will not stop the digging of latrine pits or excretion by humans. Would they?
In 2013, the World Drug Report released officially in Abuja by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) raised the alarm concerning the global rise in new psychoactive substances. The report showed that while the use of traditional drugs such as heroin and cocaine seems to be declining in some parts of the world, prescription drug abuse and new psychoactive substances rose by 50 per cent from 166 at the end of 2009 to 251 by mid-2012.
That is exactly what we are talking about. There are some of these substances that are prescription drugs. Therefore, government will not stop their usage, else people will not have drugs to take when they are sick.
UNODC representative in Nigeria, Mrs Mariam Sissoko was reported on The Nation newspaper of July 6, 2013, to have hinted that the commission on narcotic drugs will, in 2014 hold a high-level review of the political declaration and plan of action adopted by the United Nations member states on the liberalisation of the use of certain substances other than medical or scientific purposes. This means that there is still a lack of legislation on the new substances.
These substances, sometimes referred to as legal highs, are multiplying in numbers and becoming more widespread geographically, causing great concern as officials struggle to contain them. They are substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, not controlled by the 1961 convention on narcotic drugs or the 1971 convention on psychotropic substances.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, was reported by the same media to have said that the drive for addiction is growing daily, and world leaders must continue to check drug addiction, especially among the youth. He also added that in Nigeria, the agency has observed with dismay, the abuse of substances not under international control like a local plant called, zakami. The abuse of solvents like fuel, nail polish cleaner, rubber solution and others presents a unique challenge that must be addressed through advocacy and public education.
Notwithstanding, if it becomes very difficult to legislate on the new substances, something can still be done. Drug abuse is tied to the mind of the abuser, and this means that if their minds can be affected, a concomitant decline in the abuse of drugs will be recorded.
The government, religious bodies and well-meaning citizens can partner with the NDLEA to fight this menace. Campaigns can be held in schools, markets, motor parks and even churches and mosques with respect to this.
The family is also a very important institution capable of helping out. The emotions that ooze out from family members can help in remoulding the minds of drug users who have become addicts. The family should join hands with the government and other institutions in the fight against the new psychoactive substances.
We have seen the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) struggle, alongside the NDLEA to contain the fierce spread of psychoactive substances (whether new or old), but we all know that they cannot achieve it alone. Hence, all hands should be on deck – parents, teachers, preachers and everyone else.
We cannot afford to have a society dominated by drug abusers in the near future. If that happens, then Nigeria has not seen her worst days yet.
Douglas, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.