Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking: Health For Justice, Justice For Health

Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking: Health For Justice, Justice For Health

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade, which is observed annually on every 26th  of June, since 1989.

The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987.

Drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

This year’s theme is “Health for Justice, Justice for Health”. This implies that health and justice are two sides of the same coin when it comes to addressing drug problems.

The UN’s 2007 World Drug Report puts the value of the illegal drug trade at US$322 billion a year.

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According to the Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), between 2012-2016, the North-West geo-political zone recorded the highest number of drug cases with 2,353 cases recorded while North Central and South South zones followed with 1,494 and 1,303 cases recorded respectively. South West, North East and South East regions recorded 1,288, 1,017 and 802 drug cases respectively in 2016.

In 2019, a research conducted by the NBS and
the Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the European Union, found out that in the past year alone, nearly 15% of the adult population in Nigeria (around 14.3 million people) reported a “considerable level” of use of psychoactive drug substances—it’s a rate much higher than the 2016 global average of 5.6% among adults.

The highest levels of drug use were recorded among people aged between 25 to 39, with cannabis being the most widely used drugs.

Quartz Africa reports that drug use habit in Nigeria has devolved with young people increasingly resorting to potent mixtures of several drugs at the higher risk of fatal overdoses.

For instance, “gutter water,” a widely consumed cocktail of drugs, is a mix of codeine, tramadol, rohypnol, cannabis and water or juice. Some young adults are also turning to crude concoctions as alternatives, including smoking lizard parts and dung as well as sniffing glue, petrol, sewage and urine as inhalants.

UN 2018, reports that “Africa, along with Asia, also saw the largest rises in cocaine seizures, suggesting that cocaine trafficking and consumption have spread to these markets.
“Through UNODC AIRCOP, which works in several African airports, we know that heroin seizures are on the rise across the region with Lagos, Accra and Cotonou airports, high on the list, closely followed by Bamako, Lomé and Ouagadougou.”

There are over 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30. Apart from the long term damage to the body drug abuse causes, drug addicts who use needles are also at risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B and C infections.

The causes of Drug abuse include Curiosity and peer pressure, the use of prescription drugs that were originally intended to target pain relief may have turned into recreational use and become addictive.

Drugs of abuse fall into three groups and these include:

Depressants;

These cause depression of the brain’s faculties and examples include sleeping pills (barbiturates) and heroin.

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Stimulants;

These cause stimulation of the brain, giving rise to alertness and increased bursts of activity. A rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, raised blood pressure, nausea or vomiting and behavioral changes such as agitation, and impaired judgement may also result.

In severe cases, there may be delusional psychosis, which can occur with the use of cocaine and amphetamines.

Hallucinogens;

These cause hallucinations and an “out of this world” feeling of dissociation from oneself. Hallucinogens may cause distorted sensory perception, delusion, paranoia and even depression. Examples includes ecstasy, mescaline and LSD.

Epidemiology of drug abuse;

Cannabis, marijuana and hashish are the most widely abused drugs in the world. Around 141 million people worldwide consume cannabis.

The use of stimulants such as amphetamine and ecstasy is also widespread, with nearly 30 million people abusing these drugs.

Cocaine is used by around 13 million people across the globe, with the highest number of users in the United States.

Abuse of heroin and other opioids is less common than other drugs and is taken up by around 8 million people worldwide, mainly in South-East and South-West Asia and Europe.

Drug abuse is seen in various different age groups and in individuals from nearly all walks of life and socioeconomic strata. However, men are more likely to abuse drugs than women, single people are more likely to abuse drugs than married individuals and urban dwellers more likely than rural dwellers.

Prisoners, street children and younger individuals are also more likely to abuse drugs.

The drug has a huge effect on the brain, it is wired to make you want to repeat experiences that make you feel good. So you’re motivated to do them again and again.
The drugs that may be addictive, target your brain’s reward system. They flood your brain with a chemical called dopamine, which triggers a feeling of intense pleasure. So you keep taking the drug to stay high.

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Over time, your brain gets used to the extra dopamine. So you might need to take more of the drug to get the same good feeling. And other things you enjoyed, like food and hanging out with family, may give you less pleasure.

Drugs can cause changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well. They can hurt your Judgment, Decision making, Memory, Ability to learn.

Drug use is rising across the region, “representing a serious threat to public health,” according to the UN crime-fighting chief.”

Health And Justice

Esther Akimade
Onyinnye Okeke