The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sounded an alarm, revealing a disturbing trend among youths in Borno State resorting to consuming fermented human urine preserved for over ten days, as a substitute for hard drugs.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, Iliyasu Mani, the Commander of Narcotics for NDLEA in Borno State, highlighted the prevalent abuse of psychoactive substances among youths.
He detailed their consumption of unconventional items like lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, Mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks, and even inhaling toilet fumes and gutter dirt in their pursuit of intoxication.
Mani declared, “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.
He continued, “Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks; 10-day-old human Urine, and so on.”
Despite the agency’s efforts to combat substance abuse, especially among young teens and women, Mani emphasized their commitment to prevention strategies.
The NDLEA has established counseling and rehab centers as well as drug abuse research drop-in centers across tertiary institutions.
Under Mani’s command, the NDLEA has seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances, arrested 863 suspects, convicted 53, and currently has 736 individuals undergoing counseling.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime household survey, Nigeria’s substance abuse level stands at 14.3%, significantly higher than the 5.6% global average, The Punch reports.
The North-East records 13.6%, North-West 12%, and North-Central 10% in illicit drug prevalence.
