GEGEMU drink is an infusion of the part of the plant called Gegemu which is an annual growing plant. The botanical source is Datura spp. Family; Solanacea.
Scientific name; Datura metel ( Syn.; Datura stramonium )
Common name; Devil's trumpet, Angel's trumpet
Yoruba name; Gegemu or Apikan
Hausa; Zakami
Igbo; Myaramuo

DESCRIPTION - It is an annual shrub or perennial herb.
- It has erect stem.
-It has a characteristic smell.
- It looks like Garden egg shape.
- It is green in colour and has spines all over the body.
- The colour of the plant flower ranges from white, cream yellow, red to violet.


CONSTITUENTS - Datura metel (Gegemu) contains tropane alkaloids Atropine and Scopolamine(Hyoscine) and Hyoscyamine which are antimuscarinic agents.b

USES - Traditionally, it is believed that the plant is used to scare away snakes. The constituents of Datura, tropane alkaloids are used as sedative, mydriatic and antispasmodic agent.
Research also said it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory action and Datura has long been used as an extremely effective treatment for asthma symptoms. A mixture of atropine and scopolamine is used an an anaesthetic during surgery to render patients unconscious.
Scopolamine is also used as a medication for treating motion sickness and post-operative nausea and vomiting.

SIDE EFFECTS - Sleepiness, blurred vision, dilated pupils, dry mouth, slurred speech, hallucinations, seizures, memory loss and so on.

RECREATIONAL USE AND ABUSE - Their recreational use is on the rise due to the psychoactivity they proffer and prevalence in Nigeria. Gegemu is commonly abused by users because it is recognized as one of the most popular and readily available as well as legal alternative to illegal or scarce psychoactive substance in the country. The experience of Gegemu is unpleasant, mentally, and physically dangerous. It produces hallucination and intoxication that can last for days.
No wonder why an artiste "9ice" also called "Alapomeji" prophesized in one of his old track when he said "Gegemu dey here?, mafi iku sere. Awon alakori bi tie won takiti sere". That is "Is that Gegemu? Don't toy with death".
The leaves can be smoked either in cigarette or in pipe. This is commonly practised in India. The seed can be ingested or the infusion of the plant part to make a concoction and is drank at parties and many occasions. It has been gathered that the youths abuse it and investigations revealed that it had caused serious health imbalance to users.
Youths also abuse it to help them save money on alcohol supply at parties.


TOXICITY - The tropane alkaloids responsible for the medicinal properties are fatally toxic in only slightly higher amounts than the medicinal dosage, and careless use or overdose often results in hospitalizations and death.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/one-dies-five-hospitalised-taking-gegemu/

Toxicity leads to unconsciousness, inability to tell reality from fantasy, violent behaviour, amnesia, blurred vision, confusion and hallucination. It can often lead to death.
Adult, Teanagers, workers, students please you are advice not to use this datura it has alot of negative impact in the body.

Substance abuse have become a global health and socio-economic challenge which places a huge burden on the healthcare system of Nigeria and the world as a whole. It has become a threat and pose a grave consequence to the life of young people who are believed to be the future of the country and leader of tomorrow.
As part of the effort to make our world better and have responsible future leader, we must join hands to wage war against abuse of killer substance.
My brothers and sisters. Not only you smoke, drinking alcohol is drug abuse. Ingesting, drinking Gegemu is also a drug abuse.

Say No To Substance Abuse

Written by; DF Muhyideen Abioye (Catalyst)
President, Drug Free Club OAU.

For more information and support;
Contact; Drug Free Club, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife.
Address: Block 1, Ground floor, room 103.5, Fajuyi Hall, OAU.
Facebook: Drug Free Club Oau
Twitter: DrugFreeClubOAU
Instagram: drugfreecluboau
Email: drugfreecluboauife@gmail.com

These journalists go just dey introduce people to new drug experiments.. in the name of warning...

Sablexxxtoons:
These journalists go just dey introduce people to new drug experiments.. in the name of warning...

If we say it or not we will die.
People have been exposed to the drug and different ones already. We just need to do our work to create more awareness and sensitize people on the dangers of the substance use. It will at least be useful to few lives that take heed to it.
Thanks for your observation but this is not journalism work.