Many Nigerian youth are on a highway to hell in vehicles fueled by alcohol, prescription drugs and other illicit substances. Authorities in Nigeria are confounded in a search for a solution to the widespread drug abuse among the nation’s youth.
Cocaine/crack, heroin, vodka, cognac and a litany of prescription drugs like Topiramate, a medication for epilepsy and/or migraines which was detected in Tagbo.
Alcohol content in Tagbo’s body was also very high.
The medical examiner result, which was released on the 9th of October, showed that Tagbo had alcohol and drugs in his system capable of easing a person into the early stages of hypothermia and eventual death, the Nation reports.
The toxicology tests detected alcohol (Bacardi 151, 75.5% Alcohol) and Topiramate, a medication for epilepsy and/or migraines in a man’s system, in Tagbo.
Tagbo’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) by the report of the examiner was said to be at 0.112, higher than the 0.08 legal limit for normal human being, the coroner’s office stated.
Topiramate (also known as Topamax) is an anticonvulsant (antiepilepsy) drug. It is used for epilepsy in children and adults, originally used as an anticonvulsant. It also used in reducing the number of migraines.
Mixing Topomax with Alcohol mostly beverages with ethanol, leads to excessive somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness) and other forms of nervous system depression. Both when combined are synergistic. It enhances the effect of either or both.
Topiramate, like alcohol, can cause dizziness, impaired memory, impaired concentration, poor coordination, confusion and impaired judgment. The central nervous system depression, or impairment, combined with cold exposure can hasten the onset of hypothermia and death.”
Only recently, Ben Murray Bruce, a Nigerian senator said at least one child in the homes of each lawmaker in the National Assembly was on some sort of hard substance.
On the issue of drugs, Bruce said, “This is a very serious issue and I am sure my colleagues here when they were in school may have had classmates who were on drugs. When I was in high school, a few of my classmates were on drugs.
“I urge my colleagues to go home and pay attention to your children. You may be shocked that somebody in your household is on drugs. Always happy, always smiling and you have no idea why that child is smiling because that child is on drugs.”
“There are reasons why people get on drugs. The rich kids get on designer drugs because it makes them high and happy. Poor kids get on drugs because there is a level of hopelessness in their lives and when the drug makes them high it gives them relief.
“When we talk about rehabilitation, it is important we understand why people get on drugs first. Then we figure out a way to solve the problem. If we have 60 million Nigerians unemployed, 11 million kids out of school, 6 million people who just lost their jobs in the last two years, it is not surprising that lots of people are on drugs,” he said.