“Just A Sip”- How Nigerian Youths Are Lured Into Drugs

“Ade, take one na, why you dey do like baby? U no jasi at all o. Common, take a drag, ‘Arizona’ is straight from Baba God o!”

The above are some of the introductory narratives young people hear for them to have their first taste of these harmful substances that usually alter the course of their lives.

According to the BBC documentary which aired May 2018, “Thousands of young Nigerians are addicted to codeine cough syrup – a medicine that’s become a street drug. The government estimates that up to 3 million bottles of the addictive syrup are drunk every day in just two northern states. Taken in excess, codeine can cause psychosis (a severe mental disorder in which thought, and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality) and organ failure.”

The reality before us surely requires urgent collaborative intervention. For this reason, the MTN FOUNDATION launched the Anti-substance Abuse Program (#MTNASAP) with the aim to reach out to teenagers who may be tempted to want to attempt drugs.

On February 18th, 2019, the foundation began its 2-week activity extravaganza at the Ayobo Park, Old Ipaja Road, Agege. The message of a drug-free nation was conveyed using dance, music and other attractions as curious passersby swarmed in to discover the reason for all the color and music. For the next two weeks there will be activities in secondary schools, markets, and town hall meetings among other events lined up to spread the message.

Nigeria’s youth hub, Lagos, is the first port of call for the ASAP train that is on tour across nation. There will be activations in Bauchi, Imo, Abuja, Rivers, and Kano states where a replication of all the exciting activities will take place. The 26th of June 2019, will be a grand multi-stakeholder conference on substance abuse at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Substance Abuse is a one-chance bus, stay away!