June 26 is United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Reporter, HENRY ODUAH, was at the road walk organised by Adorable Foundations International (AFI) in conjunction with ASACADA, a non-governmental organisation against drug abuse, and the UN.
As cases of drug abuse get alarmingly high, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Adorable Foundation International (AFI), has begun a massive campaign to sensitise Lagosians on the need to stay away from drug abuse.
The foundation, in collaboration with ASACADA (A Societal Awareness Campaign Against Drug Abuse) staged a “great walk/campaign” around Lagos on Sunday, June 26, a day set aside by the United Nations as International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
A carnival of a sorts, the colourful road walk began from Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, to the palace of the Eze Ojiofor Ndigbo, Lagos, HRH Cyril Anomneze, for royal blessings before taking the message to Ojuelegba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Maryland, Yaba, CMS, Obalende, Awolowo Road and back to the stadium.
Founder and President, Adorable Social Club of Nigeria (ASCN) and AFI, Princess Okeke-Amam, filled with excitement for the realisation of the campaign which took a lot of planning, told journalists in a chat that preceded the walk that the day should be a day of sober reflection.
“It is very clear that today is the World Drug Day, a day of sober reflection and we are here to support the UN and our government to fight on, though our situation in the country is that of depression. What we are doing is creating awareness on drugs,” she noted.
On the Foundation’s plans to take the campaign to other states of the federation, she said: “As I speak to you, the campaign is on-going in Abuja, even at Awka (Anambra State capital) and in some other state capitals. Adorable International will go round to see that we provide our own support for our country.
“What is driving me is the zeal and passion to save a soul. I want to be happy. When we visited Jabi Park, a police officer met me and told me how he took drugs because of depression. After speaking with him, I was so happy, and that is what I intend doing. We want to live up to our slogan, ‘Put a smile on the Lazarus around you’.”
On the UN theme of the day, Okeke-Amam said: “I’m happy that the UN theme for this year’s drug day is ‘Listen First’. We have to listen, and that is what we are doing. We have to spread the message (of listening first) to parents, and then to people especially youths, (for them) to know the implication of drug abuse.”
She continued that what mattered was not the ‘fun’ in being high on drugs but it’s devastating after-effect on the addict.
Mother of ASCN and ASACADA, Nkechi Chukwueke, a lawyer, added that the campaign would soon be taken outside the shores of the country.
“It’s a laudable programme. It’s the first of its kind and we intend to do it every year all over Nigeria. Very soon we shall be travelling to (other) African countries before we go to European countries. So we are not just starting to end it in Lagos,” she said.
Superintendent of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, Musa Aliyu, and his deputy, Usman Mohammed, expressed the agency’s satisfaction partnering with the NGO against drug abuse.
Musa advised parents to look out for signs of drug use from their wards.
His words: “If you go to their rooms, just observe what is within. You may see lighter or match box, pieces of papers, bottles. If the child is not sick, the parent should ask what brought about cough syrup in the room.
“The cough syrup is now taking a new dimension. It is mostly abused by girls who are going to be mothers later. If we allow them to continue taking codeine, they will be unable to reproduce (bear children). The more they take, the more it damages the womb and that would be the end; a child can never be there.
“Also, look out for corks (especially from bottles); they are very important in burning cocaine. They usually light a candle under the cork, then they would hold the cork with a scissors or whatever for it to start burning. Initially, they use teaspoon; but now corks are in fashion.
“If you see syringes in their rooms, you should ask why, especially if the person is not a doctor. If you check under their mattresses and see some particles of what they smoked, you know what to do. There are also posters of people that do or did drugs that they usually buy from the market. Posters of Fela (Anikulapo-Kuti), Bob Marley’s and their caps with their logos on it. Even wristbands coloured green, yellow and what have you. If you notice that your child is beginning to wear such things, he or she could be going the wrong way. Sometimes you see them having multiple pockets, they could have about six pockets when they are not selling anything in the market.”
Musa added that the ultimate devastating effect of drugs is that they take one’s money and life. “There is nobody that would smoke marijuana for eight years non-stop without running mad, no matter how big his brain is; either he is by the roadside or he is talking to himself.”
Lagos-based lawyer and father of the day, Guy Ikokwu, canvassed support for the less privileged from individuals, corporate bodies and the government, which he said drove him to back the Foundation.
He spoke further: “Hard drugs lead to total blindness of the mind and opportunities, and what you can do for the creative arts and other things. If you don’t do it well, you cannot pass on the legacy to your children…they start from smoking cigarette, to tobacco, cocaine and all kinds of drugs. You can’t believe that the people manufacturing it don’t smoke or take it. They manufacture it to make money.”
Celebrities, women groups and school children who are friends of the club and foundation adorned themselves in red to support the movement around the mega city. Psychiatrists and artistes were part of the train.
Senior Registrar, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, debunked claims that some people who take drugs live till old age.
“Unfortunately they are talking from a point of ignorance because the truth is that there may be people who take substances and it appears like there is nothing wrong with them, but what we always say is that it affects not just the brain but many other organs in the body. It predisposes to medical illnesses and mental illnesses as well.
“We always see patients who come down with mental disorders who can’t function and who sometimes lose their lives in the process. So while it may look like it’s not affecting a certain amount of people, you would never know what effect it would have on you. And then even when there is a problem, it’s difficult for you to tell that there’s a problem because the organ that is supposed to be telling the body its problem is malfunctioning heavily under the influence of substance,” she said.
She lauded the effort of the foundation, emphasising that the message be taken even to children who appear to be the latest victims of drug abuse.
Her words: “A campaign like this is a laudable effort; however, it’s still a drop in the ocean. But we must give it to people like Adorable Foundation, the UN, NDLEA and others working hard to see zero-tolerance to substance abuse.
“Efforts are on-going and since the theme for this year is ‘Listen First’, we are looking at children because the age of initiation of these substances is rapidly dropping. Patients tell you that as little as age eight or nine, they got introduced into smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol by people in their environment. So awareness is increasing not because these things haven’t been there; it’s just that these days there’s a lot of awareness towards these substances.”