By Baraka Shehu Gital
Drugs are scientifically proven liquids or tablets when taken could relief pain or help sick ones recover from the ailments. Using drugs without medical doctor’s prescription is what is known as drug abuse. The act is now so common in our societies considering the number of people arrested while abusing or selling hard drugs by NDLEA on almost daily basis. Some see it as a way of civilization, most of them take anyone who is not taking drugs as uncivilized person. The harm did not only end on the abuser but to other people around him or her in the case of indian hemp and cigarrett smockings. Such drugs lead them to crimes, they only knew the gravity of their actions after they return to their normal sense. People are scared fear of them (abusers) because they tend to do anything whenever the abuse drugs.
Taking drugs has gone beyond expectations as house wives that supposed to be role models to their children in doing good acts are now turning into big abusers of drugs and syrups. Children in most times do things they see their parents doing because they do not have the ability to differentiate right from wrong untill their parents guide them. Thus; parents that abuse drugs undermine the moral upbringing of their sons and daughters. Sending them to buy such drugs also make outside people have no respect to all people living in that house even if one is different, disciplines tend to be low in such houses because parents have less respect from their biological children. These issues are more rampant in Northern Nigeria because of our high population and high level of unemployments amongst youths.
Unfortunately, there are increase in places where illicit drugs are sold, the business is booming because of profits drug vendors are accumulating and assets they own through it; many are into it to be like them.
In villages the incidences are becoming high, some could not farm without taking drug; they usually accomplish the tasks but at the same time not knowing they are harming their health. Drug abuse also lead addicts to all king of criminalities when they do not have money to buy. They mostly engage in stealing, kidnapping, robbery, snatching items and all other heneous crimes just to get money and buy hard drugs.
Looking at the category of drug abusers make me wonder how the future would be. Most of them are youths and we know youths are the strenghts of nations but our youth are busy consuming drugs; it is a clear indication that the future would be full of mess if urgent actions are not taken now. In societies nobody is safe as they now snatch items, they confiscate devices like laptops, smartphones that aid study within and outside our campuses and threaten to kill if victims try to raise alarm.
Same happened in my presence, I boarded a bus in Bauchi, the driver after driving for short time stopped to buy something from a nearby shop, two hefty guys snatched his phone and ran away; he shouted but non came to his aid as everyone was afraid. They mostly commit such crimes under the influence of hard drugs, they make them to be fearless and perform impossibilities but regret their actions when they are caught and return to their senses.
Nowadays, people hardly bring out their phones to answer calls in some streets, snatchers appear from undisclose location in bikes and confiscates the phone and speed off. In the absence of phone, they snatch wallets, bikes, cars and other valuables without been traced by security agents.
The snatchers usually sell those items on small amounts to have money for hard drugs. The effect of bad leadership is another cause, politicians make use of idle youths and buy all sorts of drugs for them Inna bid to assign them carry out some act of criminality. Such politicians never allow their children into such habits because they knew its a bad for their future ambitions. Bad politicians used such youths before and during elections but dump them after winning the offices they contested; when things worsen, they usually flew abroad where their wives and children are living and schooling. Thus, the poor people are left in darkness of no sound education, no work to get income and no plans for the great task ahead.
The act of taking an illicit drugs can only be stopped when suppliers and dealers of all illicit drugs are arrested and made to face severe punishments that would make them stop selling the drugs.
Those arrested for taking illicit drugs need to be taken to rehabilitation centres, they should be train into different skills so that whenever they come out, they would be responsible individuals in their societies.
More enlightenment on dangers of drug abuse should be on all radio and television stations, it would help many to be conversant with different drugs and what they could result abusers into. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be granted the will to arrest anyone accused of drug trafficking or selling, the immunity which some office holders have should be put aside so that they face the wrath of the law like everyone else.
More skill acquisition centres should be opened so that youths would be employed and have no time for abusing drugs. By applying these measures, our societies would be free from taking illicit drugs.
Baraka Shehu Gital writes from the Department of Mass Communication, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi