The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) issued a warning on Thursday, revealing that youths in Borno State are resorting to consuming fermented human urine and unconventional substances as alternatives to traditional drugs.
Iliyasu Mani, the Commander of Narcotics for NDLEA in Borno State, disclosed this information, emphasizing the prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse among the youths.
He highlighted the consumption of substances such as lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, Mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks, as well as inhaling toilet fumes and gutter dirt in their pursuit of intoxication.
Mani stated, “These new psychoactive substances commonly abused today include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, Cough syrup with codeine; Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung. Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks; 10-day-old human Urine, and so on.”
Despite the NDLEA’s efforts to combat drug abuse, especially among young teens and women, the commander acknowledged the increasing challenges.
He mentioned the establishment of a remodeled counseling/rehab center and drop-in centers across tertiary institutions as part of the agency’s prevention strategy.
Under Mani’s leadership, the NDLEA command reported seizing 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances, arresting 863 suspects, with 53 convictions and 736 undergoing counseling.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s household survey in 2018 (reviewed in 2021 and 2022) indicated a substance abuse level in Nigeria at 14.3%, three times higher than the global average of 5.6%.
Regional breakdowns showed the prevalence in the North-East at 13.6%, North-West at 12%, and North-Central at 10%.
