The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised alarm on Thursday.. NDLEA said youths in Borno State are drinking fermented human urine, preserved over 10 days, as an alternative to hard drugs.
The Commander of Narcotics of
the NDLEA in Borno State, Iliyasu Mani, disclosed this in a statement in
Maiduguri.
He said abuse of psychoactive
substances was prevalent among the youths, noting that they also take other
unusual substances such as lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, and
Mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks.
He said they also inhale toilet
fumes and gutter dirt in their quest to get intoxicated.
Mani said, “Let me state
categorically here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly
abused today include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, Cough syrup with codeine; Ice,
Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt,
toilet fumes, lizard dung.
“Others include Lipton soaked
in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks; 10-day-old human Urine,
and so on.”
Mani said the NDLEA command, under his watch, had fought a hard battle against drug abuse but “unfortunately, the issue of substance abuse is even getting challenging, especially with the involvement of young teens in the abuse of new psychoactive substances, especially women.”
“Despite all these, we must not
lose our hope as the agency has strengthened its efforts towards prevention
strategy through the establishment of remodeled counselling/rehab centre within
the premises of Borno State Command,” the NDLEA commander said.
Mani said his command had also
established drop-in centres across all tertiary institutions to serve as drug
abuse research centres for the benefit of all.
He said the command, under his
watch, had seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances and arrested 863 suspects.
Of those arrested, he said 53
had been convicted while 736 were undergoing counselling.
The United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime household survey conducted in 2018 but reviewed in 2021 and
2022 placed the level of substance abuse in Nigeria at 14.3 per cent, which was
three times higher than the 5.6 per cent global average.
The survey further showed that
the prevalence of illicit drugs in the North-East was put at 13.6 per cent and
North-West, 12 per cent, while North-Central is said to be at 10 per cent.
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