NIGERIA`S YOUNG AND THE DEADLY ROMANCE WITH DRUGS
The latest buzz on the Nigerian street lately has been “a combination of Methylated Spirit and Cococolas Coke” (a deathblow; no thanks to methanol poisoning) – an evil genius and an ultimate silent killer. This reminds of me of Rene Descartes quote that states “the greatest minds are capable of the greatest virtues as well as the greatest vices”.
These happenings are not isolated, this virus took its time, though drastic yet not mystic. We are all culprits who have contributed to the mess in this generation. All of a sudden, our “movie and music censor-authorities” have gotten vestigial despite several drug inspired sceneries and lines, its ironic that we wonder where our under-30s got the Methylated-Spirit and Coke. They opine that these mixtures will take them off the earth as well as off hell; at least momentarily. Like an airplane so determined to escape to the clouds, they make no hesitation when they come across pain killers, cough syrups, pipes and many others. Perhaps, you think the drug problem is only a street phenomenon, you are simply mistaken as this act has unfortunately found itself into some executive and may be political space. Hence, its now our collective challenge!
Our politicians now feature in questionable music videos, our law enforcement agents act under “some form of influence”, some of them even stick it in your face when you travel within states.
The economy is taking its toll, unemployment is getting uglier (according to a report in Dec. 2017 by the National Bureau of Statistic – full time employment declined from 52. 7 million in the first quarter to 51.1 million people in the third quarter) insecurity and unnecessary loss of life: the Bokos, the Herdspeople, the Sarzs… have all played their parts in driving the young crazy.
Failed Religious and Political Systems with little or no plan for the youths have all been implicated in this societal cancer.
Such organizations keep taking the exuberances of the youths as excuse for not carrying them along.
Nigeria`s politics has unfortunately reduced the youths to political foot soldiers whose only good is to count ballot papers or steal them.
Our Educational systems are almost a crap – highly expensive, grossly inadequate and with limited facilities as well as unmotivated tutors, who sometimes forget that they are to impart virtues into these younger ones and not just teach Mathematics!
We all have contributed to this reckless development and the corrective measure must be a holistic one.
Dear Young, you do not have to cut your life short by the ills of the elders.
You do not have to allow your life get dragged by the lyrics of thoughtless singers who might not even be around in 20 years time as a way of compensating for many years of substance abuse?
Think about it.
You deserve better!
By my friend 
Victor Oyelade
[email protected]
(Masters in Public Health - In View)