₦airaland Forum

Dpharmacist:
By: DPharmacist

This morning, I got a message from a friend.

“Please can you help me with pentazocine for my friend? She's a sickle cell warrior. She just wants to have it close by in case she starts having crisis so she can inject herself before rushing to the hospital.”

On the surface, it sounded innocent — even considerate. After all, we all want to help people in pain, right?

But something didn’t sit right with me.

Pentazocine? A controlled drug? Just like that?

As a health professional, I had to explain that I couldn’t do that. It's not just any medication, and it’s not meant for unsupervised use, especially by non-medical personnel.

I probed further.

Turns out the lady in question is already in the habit of injecting herself anytime she “feels something coming.” In fact, she keeps the drug close at all times — hidden, like a secret weapon against pain.

But to me, it sounded like a serious case of drug dependence. That one message opened the door to a deeper issue that so many people in Nigeria are either ignorant about or too ashamed to talk about:

PENTAZOCINE ADDICTION.

🌡️ What Is Pentazocine?

For those who don’t know, Pentazocine is a narcotic analgesic — in simple terms, a powerful painkiller. It works by acting on the central nervous system (CNS) to block pain signals in the brain.

It's often used in hospitals for moderate to severe pain, such as during surgery or for cancer patients. But here's the issue:

When used frequently or without strict medical supervision, pentazocine becomes highly addictive.


The Dark Side: From Pain Relief to Dependency

You see, people with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease experience unimaginable pain. It’s not surprising that they seek out ways to manage it fast. But when you begin to inject yourself without medical oversight, you’re not just treating pain — you’re feeding an addiction.

And this isn't about judgment. It’s about raising awareness, especially for families and caregivers who think they’re helping their loved ones by stocking them with powerful drugs at home.

🚨 Signs of Pentazocine Addiction[/b]

If you or someone you know is using pentazocine, here are the red flags to watch out for:

¶Physical Symptoms:

¶Constant drowsiness

¶Dizziness or nausea

¶Constipation

¶Unusual marks on arms or legs from injections

¶Abscesses or skin infections

Behavioral Symptoms:

¶Preoccupation with the drug ("Where can I get it? Do I have enough?"

¶Using it even when there's no pain

¶Hiding the drug or lying about using it

¶Neglecting responsibilities

¶Depression or mood swings

¶Attempting to forge prescriptions or buy illegally

And when they stop? Withdrawal kicks in: sweating, shaking, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts in extreme cases.


🦠 Health Risks You Didn’t Bargain For

Injecting pentazocine without proper hygiene can expose you to deadly diseases like:

Hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, Sepsis (a deadly infection that spreads through the blood), Collapsed veins and nerve damage and lastly Organ failure in the long run.

These are not scare tactics — they are medical realities happening in our communities every day.

Not Just Sickle Cell Patients — Youths Are Abusing It Too!

Shockingly, young people and students are among the growing number of pentazocine abusers in Nigeria. Some use it for its "feel-good" effect, while others use it to “escape reality” or enhance their ability to study or work long hours.

But they don’t know the full story. Addiction doesn’t start with needles. It starts with ignorance.


🛑 So What’s the Right Way to Handle Pain and Prescribed Drugs?

1. Don’t self-medicate.

Always consult a qualified doctor. Don’t just go and inject or swallow a drug because someone else did.

2. Don’t pressure healthcare workers.

Asking someone to prescribe a controlled drug casually is unethical. It puts them and you at risk.

3. Don’t enable addiction.

If you’re buying or keeping drugs "just in case," you're feeding dependency. Not helping.

4. Talk to professionals.

If pain is chronic, request a pain management plan from your doctor — they can guide you safely.

5. Observe your loved ones.

If someone close to you is always injecting themselves, especially in secret, have that tough conversation. It could save their life.


🧠 What To Do If You’re Struggling With Pentazocine Addiction

It’s not the end of the road. Help is available.

✅ Medical detox to remove the drug safely from your system
✅ Medications to reduce cravings
✅ Therapy like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
✅ Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous
✅ Aftercare and relapse prevention strategies

Please, speak to a psychiatrist or addiction specialist. It’s confidential, and you’ll be treated with compassion — not shame.


❤️ A Final Word

If you're using pentazocine, either for medical or emotional pain, I want you to know this:

You are not weak. You are human. But you also deserve better than the chains of addiction.

True strength is not in hiding your struggle — it's in seeking help and choosing healing.

Let’s stop enabling silent addiction in our homes. Let’s start talking about it. Let’s educate ourselves and protect our brothers, sisters, and friends.


📢 Over to you, Nairalanders:

Have you seen or heard of someone addicted to pentazocine?

What are your thoughts on how we handle pain management in Nigeria?

Do you think enough awareness is being done?

Let’s talk. Your comment might save a life.

Say NO to self-medication. Say YES to responsible healthcare.

The picture you paint is that of drug misuse, not dependence. You need more information before you can diagnose dependence.

muyico:
54k now!

Did Obi create this company Statistisense? They are barefaced liars. Now I can’t believe their figures anymore.

immortalcrown:
042

Not just in 042 but in many parts of Nigeria.

In most apartments, tenants remove the living-room (parlour) window burglary for furniture movement when packing in and when packing out.

Because black man is brainless to be honest. Oyinbo people will send everything to you in flat pack. The instruction manual of how to put it together is in the box. Even the equipment you need like Allen screw driver will be included. Its up to you to figure out how to put them together into a sofa within your living room.

Zionmdde:
Bold in making decisions that favors only political leaders massively abi?
Decisions that has brought untold hardship to the common man.
If I ask you now, you will say the common man should go and huzzle.
If I still ask you one thing the common man on the street has benefitted from the so called policies, you will be here yarning rubbish

@OP, give it to anyone asides APC. If there is anything it signifies, it will be a warning to any party in power, perform or be booted out. Why there is so much laxity among leaders to perform is simple, they don't care, all they know that come next election they will buy votes and rig elections

Complete rubbish. Is this how daft many people are in this country. ”Just give it to anyone outside APC”, what kind of madness is in that thinking. So you can collect your child from the claws of a wolf and give it to a lion without thinking? Only nzogbu nzogbu people think like this. Very sorry state of the mind indeed!

Believeintruth:
Dr lateef
Say the truth and stop spewing lies.

Unless you want me to tell lies, I have just said the truth.

AMINDA:
Was he on the ballot? You lot underestimate how unpopular Tinubu was in 2023. He's even more unpopular now in the North no thanks to his poor performance and disgraceful treatment of allies like Elrufai. Elrufai is a major factor why Tinubu won 5.6m votes in the North. In 2027, the dynamics will be different. Tinubu should better have a contingency plan in place to replace the Northern votes he would lose with votes from the South. Otherwise, he's toast.

He was so unpopular that even Sanwo-olu couldn't deliver him in Lagos. He now blames Sanwo for not brazenly rigging the election on his behalf as was done in Rivers.

You only make one-directional political calculations. Tinubu now has far bigger structures than 2023. El Rufai is not as big as the structure Tinubu now controls.

damosade:
This is the road I drive everyday, where is the 30km of the road done? We deceive ourselves in the country a lot.

But some of you critics say the road was not even started at all. Were you driving on the sea?

MaziObinnaokija:
Kid.She is NOT A THIEF.A hardened THIEF no mata how u cajole/beg won't return that stuff.


Kudos Mama

The fact that she even admitted keeping it is enough evidence that she forgot to hand it over. Unless she was caught out by a CCTV or any other hard evidence.

Typing:
Tinubu want to take glory for weting no concern am. He couldn't successfuly do maintenance for our national refinaries, he couldn't successfuly build roads, bridges or any meaningful project since he assumed office over 2 years ago.

Now he go dey take pictures for Dangotes refinary. His media aids and APC won't allow us hear word today. They are acting like it was Tinubu that build this Dangote refinary

An obidaft has started wailing😀😀😀. They will never disappoint us😀😀😀

dederocs:
Tinubu NNPCL and Dangote should work together to end importation of fuel by being able to sell fuel very cheap for Nigerians, use capacity.

The people still importing petrol are the corrupt petroleum dealers who insist they must import in other to bring back subsidy. With local production and self sufficiency, subsidy is buried for over. Thats what they don’t want.

naptu2:
Previous thread:

Akin Olaoye made this complaint, but he came under sustained attack from some Obidients.

Obidient Chieftain Akin Olaoye Complains About Toxicity In The Obidient Movement
https://www.nairaland.com/8443374/obidient-chieftain-akin-olaoye-complains

The core obidafts are nzogbu nzogbu people. The aggressive type of people. So, toxicity is in the blood.

BlessedGift:
Hmmm, is the man not married?

Even her own husband would still eye another beautiful woman somewhere. Men are wired to be polygamists.

Kobojunkie:
Even in his response, he couldn't resist the urge to insert yet more lies. So, terrorists and bandits are not recognized as criminals?

😂😂😂😂😂😂 These folks should stop giving that boy attention abeg! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

I think you need to go and eat your soaked garri. You must be hungry as you are so confused like a headless chicken.😂😂😂

richiemcgold:
The youngsters of this era are the most wicked ever

Who are their parents? No be you?

Racoon:
This is Reno Omokri reward for betraying Atiku and attacking Peter Obi? Reno you will forever go down in infamy?

Sorry brother.😂😂😂. I know this is too painful to bear for you.

AntiisIam:
Must you be lying always? Shey you will die if you don't lie for allah in a day? For exposing your taqqiya now is senseless to you bah? Can you see how silly and stupid you are

Next time if you want to defend your allah, Muhammad and islam, be mindful of what to said else it will turn embarrassing to you. Why would you said your allah withdrew his preference for Israel because they killed John the Baptist when the killer of John the Baptist was not an Israelite. Use your senses next time sogbo eru-iku

When you are sober from your drug and alcohol intoxication come back to me.

AntiisIam:
A non- Isralite beheaded John the Baptist so why did your allah withdrew his preference for Israel?

I welcome anything called taqqiya as it will be exposing you further




Your allah is the same satan I believe you know this? When Muhammad misbehaved, why didn't allah withdraw his favour from him

I thought you are here for sensible comments. Please veer off my radar. Nonsense!!!

AntiisIam:
I have two questions for you:

1. Name the prophets they killed with Quran verse

2. Why did allah withdraw his preference against Israel since he is all knowing

1. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.}[Quran 2:87]. Was Prophet Yahya John the Baptist not killed?

2. Simple, Allah gives human beings freewill just like Satan. When satan was dutiful and worshipped Allah he was brought to paradise to live among angels. He is a jinn. But when he disobeyed Allah he was cast out and cursed by Allah. Same with Jews. When any human being misbehaves, Allah withdraws His favour from such human being.

helinues:
On average of how many hours electricity per day?

Why is Abia state missing from the list, or the stable electricity some people have been claiming from the state na flukes?

I currently enjoy about 18 hours/day of power in Ogun state

tomax026:
In the beginning of this week, I stumbled upon this verse from the Holy Quran where Allah said he prefers Israel than other nations. Q 2:47.
Surprisingly, I have said it to many Muslims, but they don't know it is even inside Quran.
So I want to know why these Jews people are so special cos inside Bible they are the favourite , and now Allah says he prefers them again inside Quran.
This is another translation of the Quran verse.
Quran (2:47) Children of Israel! Recall My favour which I bestowed upon you, exalting you above all nations

“Preferred” is the past tense. Get the explanation of what you read if you can’t understand. After being preferred, they killed prophets and disobeyed Allah. He then withdrew His preference for them. The evidence is also there in Quran.

smokinloud:
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been killing innocent Persian civilians since 1979 and their end is near

You are a joker? Nobody has such information. Isreali atrocities are well known to everyone.

baralatie:
I doubt the regional war part
Iran has been the one deliberately pushing everyone else
And now it has to show its face
And Iran has shown it's face

Iran has been killing occupied people for over 50 years? Do you have brain at all?

BigBrother9ja:
Few days ago when senile terrorist Netanyahú who would do anything to remain in power was yarning rubbish at UN meeting, terrorist sympathisers were clapping for him. He thought that his nonsense wailing can scare Iran


Let ISRA HELL USA respond as usual, I trust that Iran won't fold its harms while they're responding.
USA can escape the terror of Iran on their land FOR NOW, but I'm very sure that their terrorist organisation of those European Zionist migrants won't escape it.

They have two options:
EITHER THEY COWARDLY RUN BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM AS USUAL

or

IRAN WILL SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR FOOLISH god THAT PROMISED THEM A LAND THAT ALREADY HAS OCCUPANTS.

BASTARƊS

Well said! The zionist terrorists will be taught a lesson. Let them try any nonsense, they will know this is just a slap in the wrist.

Pootle:
ontop small isreal all of them dey trow missiles yet them no fit win shame on all those arab nations and their allied

America is the only one preventing Isreal from being roasted.

Atiku thinks he is wise. His hope is that he would win next election and serve a 6 year term instead of 4 years. Smart Alec.

shivisee:
Lets be serious does this parade fit clown and kid like obi abi wetin hi call himself? Pepper never pepper,na melon wan pepper! Fashola an erudite never become president,that boy obi na him wan come pass back door become president! Anyway,na ipob,s online presidents him be!

I hear Obi is inspecting Twitter national parade right now in Elon Musk office.😂😂😂😂

crentina:
Is israel the 51st American State? How can you say you're getting ready to provide protection for them?

Provide them with weapons to defend themselves that's good enough. Why are you fighting for another Country or are we missing sth here?

Isreal will come to Nairaland to beat their cowardly chest that they won. Can they ever win anything without US support? Weaklings!!!!

bassdow:
Same White-House and EU + NATO is scared Russia might attack them. Wonder how over 50-Countries would be scared of just a single country.

To make matters worse, there's been several reports that even the entire EU don't have enough military strength

Their men prefer to watch playstation than join the military.😂😂😂

monex:
You seem not to understand me. A 133% increase is not an achievement when the buying power ended up being eroded. It really translates to a decrease in salary. I know this because some private sector companies did over 200% increase and it still wasn't enough.

This has always been the case in every time the minimum wage is increased. What we need to do is to go back to farmlands and produce food that we eat

monex:
you increase minimum wage by 100% while cost of goods increased by 300%. People are much poorer. Is eroding people's buying power an achievement.

the USD (yes because your economy is import/USD dependent) revenue governors get is much smaller than it was before PBAT. If you devalue the currency and partially remove subsidy, there will be more money to share to all tiers however the buying power of that money is reduced. Are you surprised that governors buy USD immediately they get their FAAC?

Minimum wage was increased by 133%, not 100%. At least you have admitted there are some achievements of the government you refused to acknowledge previously.

softtorce:
One full year cycle Bola Ahmed Tinubu as no single tangible achievement so tell us why was he shouting he want to be president ?! He as instead turn the country upside with hyperinflation threatening the country.

When will this foolish man sack Edu n Cardoso for the gross inadequacies they have show handling the CBN n economy ?

Minimum wage increase is not an achievement. Do you know what they call achievement? Light is better, students are getting loans, governors get higher revenue, though they pocket the money while you keep quiet.

JASONjnr:
These government is confused with it's propaganda.

Tinubu wants to force his imaginary achievements on the people, irrespective of the suffering.

Tariff is extremely high over the increased tax. Ordinary Nigerians can't afford it..... How are they enjoying the light?

Estimated bill is on a very high side.... Prepaid meter is now very expensive to acquire.

The 40% is made up of the rich class and a tiny fraction of the middle class....

Stop crying. I am enjoying at least 18 hours right now. I thought it was a fluke but it has been sustained. Stop complaining and work together to better the lots. I won’t be surprised if you are doing yahoo job and complaining about a decadent country. Are you not part of the problem?