What do you think of when you hear ‘Substance abuse’? Fear? Desire? Lust? Disgust? Blame? Shame? Hate? Nothing? Well, for some – loved ones we cherish, friends we could die for, family that we adore – it’s the beginning of the end.

A woman told a heart rending story of how she lost her younger brother to addiction - ‘codeine diet’! We watched with our hands-on-heads and mouths-ajar as a friend showed us an Instagram video of a person whose journey to substance abuse had turned them into a spectacle!

At every street corner, whether the rich people’s crescents or the not-so-rich backyard, there is a deal going down. Money is changing hands, some powdery substance, tablet, dried leaves or vials of medicine is being exchanged.

Let's face it - it's everywhere o, and who’s going to stop it? Well, people are stepping up to the challenge. The MTN Foundation in collaboration with various stakeholders (such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Association of Community Pharmacists, Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, etc) just launched a project tagged ASAP (Anti-Substance Abuse Programme), on Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 in Lagos. ASAP is a multi-stakeholder intervention aimed at increasing awareness of substance abuse and addiction among youths. The goal of the programme is to discourage first-time usage and casual substance abuse nationwide. Lessons learnt from the press conference were simply mind boggling! You cannot begin to imagine the amount of substances people abuse - tyres, feaces, paint,glue?! The list is endless!
L-R: (photo below) Rufai Oseni, Inspiration FM OAP, Advocate for mental wealth; Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist, MD, Pinnacle Medical Services and Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, President, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, discussing urgent issues at the launch of the MTN Foundation multi-stakeholder Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) on December 19th, 2018 in Lagos.

It needs to stop, and it needs to stop now, which is why we are looking forward to everything on this ASAP initiative. There is a lot to learn and many ways to help. The world will know we did.

Read more: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2019/1/when-did-substance-abuse-become-the-new-cool-2.html

Cc: Lalasticlala mynd44 Dominique

Since olamide sang science students

Unemployment is a major factor.

I thought as much

CaZmir:

Unemployment is a major factor.

I thought as much

CaZmir:

Unemployment is a major factor.

[quote author=Jerryembassy91 post=74645743]I thought as much [/quote
exactly.

Jerryembassy91, the kind of music being played is the major contribution and not even unemployment

Future did Mask Off with a chorus glorifying Molly and Percocet
Every trap music you listen to is all about prescription pills abuse and guns
In Nigeria, you have the codeine diet and science student stuff
Now the people listening to this music wants to be very much like what the musicians are saying
They want to be as cool as their favourite artist, now what do you think you'll get
The kind of music available today only tells you that you're cool and in the know if you pop pills till you feel like a zombie

Nice point there... Ptolemy22 Rightly said, Music Industry is a major factor..

Ptolemy22:
Jerryembassy91, the kind of music being played is the major contribution and not even unemployment

Future did Mask Off with a chorus glorifying Molly and Percocet
Every trap music you listen to is all about prescription pills abuse and guns
In Nigeria, you have the codeine diet and science student stuff
Now the people listening to this music wants to be very much like what the musicians are saying
They want to be as cool as their favourite artist, now what do you think you'll get
The kind of music available today only tells you that you're cool and in the know if you pop pills till you feel like a zombie