The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raised an alarm on Thursday, revealing that youths in Borno State are resorting to drinking fermented human urine, preserved for over 10 days, as a substitute for hard drugs. Iliyasu Mani, the Commander of Narcotics for NDLEA in Borno State, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri. He highlighted the prevalent abuse of psychoactive substances among the youths, including the consumption of unusual items like lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, Mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks, inhaling toilet fumes, and gutter dirt in their pursuit of intoxication.
Mani emphasized that the newly abused psychoactive substances include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, Cough syrup with codeine, Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung. He also mentioned Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks, and 10-day-old human urine.
Despite the NDLEA’s efforts against drug abuse, Mani expressed concern about the growing challenge, especially involving young teens and women in the abuse of new psychoactive substances. The NDLEA commander stated that the agency had strengthened its efforts through the establishment of a remodeled counseling/rehab center within the Borno State Command premises.
Mani further revealed the establishment of drop-in centers in tertiary institutions for drug abuse research and prevention. Under his command, the NDLEA seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances, arrested 863 suspects, with 53 convictions and 736 undergoing counseling.
Referring to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime household survey from 2018 (reviewed in 2021 and 2022), Mani pointed out that the substance abuse level in Nigeria was 14.3%, three times higher than the global average of 5.6%. The survey indicated the prevalence of illicit drugs in the North-East at 13.6%, North-West at 12%, and North-Central at 10%.
