Codeine reportedly found in the bags of ninety percent of women who attended a naming ceremony in Kano

It will be recalled that the menace of drug abuse in Northern Nigeria has been in the news recently and a lecturer with Bayero University, Dr Bala Muhammad accused Igbo people of being behind the ugly trend In the paper titled: “Nexus Between Youth, Drugs, Crime and Insecurity”, Mr Muhammad blamed the Igbos, with the connivance of local people, for the prevalence of drug abuse in the northern region, especially Kano state.





 The lecturer wondered why drug abuse was not prevalent in the Southeastern region, but the Igbo people supply cough syrup that contains codeine for the consumption of the Northern youth. “Our investigation revealed that drug abuse is beyond normal marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc.

 It has moved to the extent that the medicines we take in order to cure our diseases are now being converted into hard drugs. “We then discovered that it is the handiwork of the Igbo people, who connive with our local people here, to supply the codeine into our region, especially into Kano state. “There are many instances where Igbo guys were arrested for supplying codeine into Kano and some parts of the North.

The cases have been reported in national dailies. “So, why shouldn’t they take it to their region?
Why don’t their youth engage in drug abuse?

This is really sad, and we have to rise up to fight this menace,” he lamented. Dr. Mohammed also blamed court judges for compromise to secure the release of the suspects without trial, noting that it was the reason the problem was deteriorating.

 He, therefore, called on the general public to fight the menace themselves within their respective communities, advising people not to disown the youth engaged in drug abuse.



Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Substance-related disorders are those that involve the use and abuse of different substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and alcohol. These disorders may include substance-induced conditions that can result in many associated diagnoses including intoxication, withdrawal, the emergence of psychosis, anxiety and delirium. Examples of substance-related disorders: Alcohol-related disorders involve the consumption of alcohol, the most widely used (and frequently overused) drug in the United States. Cannabis-related disorders include symptoms such as using more than originally intended, feeling unable to stop using the drug, and continuing to use despite adverse effects in one's life. Inhalant-use disorder involves inhaling fumes from things such as paints or solvents. As with other substance-related disorders, people with this condition experience cravings for the substance and find it difficult to control or stop engaging in the behavior. Stimulant use disorder is a new category now found in the DSM-5 that involves the use of stimulants such as meth, amphetamines, and cocaine. Tobacco use disorder is characterized by symptoms such as consuming more tobacco than intended, difficulty cutting back or quitting, cravings, and suffering adverse social consequences as a result of tobacco use. The DSM-5 also includes gambling disorder under this classification. The American Psychiatric Association explains that this change "reflects the increasing and consistent evidence that some behaviors, such as gambling, activate the brain reward system with effects similar to those of drugs of abuse and that gambling disorder symptoms resemble substance use disorders to a certain extent."


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Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions.