Watch out! Children Schooling Abroad May Be Getting High on Codeine, Others

Presently the Nigerian authority is waging a spirited war against the abuse of codeine epidemic and other drugs and substances in the country. This war, which many opine should have been fought long ago by the Nigerian government, sees the regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies clamping down on makers and importers of medicine with codeine content. And we owe the whole governmental action to a recent BBC documentary that highlighted the danger of the abuse of codeine-containing syrup by mostly the youths across Nigeria.

Codeine is a substance used in treating pain and cough. But it’s also been discovered it can produce euphoric feeling when consumed excessively. Hence the abuse of cough syrup containing codeine among the youths to get high.

The abusive use of the substance by both male and female in the country is reported to be adversely affecting the behaviour of many youths across the country, the north especially where it’s been confirmed to be rampant and has taken control of a lot of citizens’ lives.

Meanwhile, to think the abuse of codeine and other dangerous drugs is limited to Nigerians living in Nigeria is to be grossly mistaken.

And this is where parents who send their wards to different countries abroad to study need to be more vigilant, particularly on the activities of their children who are far away from home.

Reports have indicated that many students who are studying in some of the best higher institutions in neighbouring African cities like Cotonou and Accra are also getting quite obsessed with the consumption of codeine and other harmful substances.

Similarly, their contemporaries who are sent by parents with huge sums to universities in Europe and North America are equally hooked on the bad trend. In fact, many Nigerian students in schools in the UK, America and Canada are said to be fond of cocaine and similar hard drugs.

Indeed, this must be a frightening wake up call for the parents; and very importantly, a moment to be more watchful and interested in the affairs of their children who are left to study in foreign lands.