A consultant psychiatrist, Dr Peter Nubi, on Wednesday says that ceaseless vigilance by parents and guardians remains key in the fight against drug abuse and addictions among youths.

Nigerian youths

Nubi, who is also a rehabilitation expert at Grace Cottage Clinics, Lagos said this in a phone interview with newsmen.

According to him, drug abuse and addiction among young Nigerians is now a national problem, adding that the dangerous trend had the capacity to alter young people’s behaviour and make them behave abnormally.

“We must destroy drug abuse before it destroys our youths, our future. The fight against drug abuse is not the exclusive responsibility of the government.All hands must be on deck to find lasting solution to the menace.

“A chemist friend of mine called me recently and said he had sold all the Piriton supply in his shop within a week, meaning that youths have now shifted to Piriton after Codeine was banned.

“This is unacceptable; parents should make time for their children rather than pursuing money every time and leaving the care of the children to house maids.

“Eternal vigilance is what is required by parents in order to protect their children against peer pressure, drug abuse and addiction.

“Don’t leave your children unattended to, pay unscheduled visits to him or her in schools, check his or her luggage from time to time and check his or her body to ensure she or he has not joined cultist groups.

“Ask for his or her school reports and look for signs of needle marks on his or her arms.

“Check his or her nose for signs of sniffing cocaine and check his or her lips for cannabis if the lips suddenly become dark.

“Check their behaviour if they suddenly get annoyed, defiant and evasive or try to lock themselves in their rooms most of the time or refuse to pick calls,” he said.

Nubi said that the best form of defence against addiction is to nip it in the bud and required constant vigilance of parents.

“The brain as a very delicate and fragile organ should be kept safe from abusive substances.

“Addiction usually starts little by little in form of experimenting before it becomes a compulsive use and after that, the person becomes a dependent and can’t do without it again.

“Even after losing home or family, getting jailed or being disgraced in the society, he or she may love to stop but unfortunately won’t be able to stop.

“Another thing is that the addict will continue to increase the dose in order to achieve same satisfaction until they die of the complications, if not promptly rehabilitated.”

The psychiatrist said that parents could not afford to be negligent and ignorant of the evolving trends in the society, if they would successfully guard their children against substance abuse and addiction.

“As a parent raising children in this century, you cannot afford to be ignorant; you must equip yourselves with street slogans and vocabularies if we are going to win the war against drug abuse.

“Parents or guardians should be aware of the substance of addiction and their code names.

“Tramadol, Codeine, Pentazocine, Heroine, Cocaine, Cannabis, Nicotine, Nescafe, Alcohol, Camphor, Gum, Deodorant, Body Spray,

Shoe spray, Petrol, Pit Latrine, Kafra and tinner-the one used for mixing paints-are some the substances bused by our youths.

“Their code names vary and include but not limited to mushroom, spice, Thailand, Tom-tom and Lacassera, maggi, malt, gutter water, eja, obe, skunk, waves and akanpo.

“Some of these substances are mixed in drinks or some cooked with foods like beans and noodles or used to bake cake or prepare pepper soup.”

Nubi also appealed to youths and adolescents to take responsibility for their future and not to give in to peer pressure.

“Never give in to the urge to experiment with drugs, if you do, you will only know the beginning, you may not know the end.

“As a youth, please never give in to peer pressure. If you have any burden or any stress from school or home or from relationships, never try drugs as a way out.

“Talk to a trained expert instead.

“Drugs are better not tried than trying them and wanting to get out of the use. You may be caged and may be injured for life.”

NAN