20/04/2023
THE SCOURGE OF DRUG ADDICTION IN OUR BELOVED ONICHA.
Indications that ONICHA as a community is ebbing dangerously into a dysfunctional society due to the pervasive use of illicit drugs by many of its young people. There is hardly any part of the community where the use of one type of illicit drug or another is not a veritable issue of concern. It is a grave development that has the potential to imperil the country’s future. Currently, many communities in the South-East are reportedly grappling with the pernicious effects of the consumption of illicit drugs namely CRACK CO***NE and METHAMPHETAMINE which is called "MKPURU MMILI" in local parlance, IT'S literal translation in Igbo language means ‘seeds of water’. Its use has been linked to various aberrant, anti-social and criminal behaviours by some youths all over the world. Cases of young boys ra**ng grandmothers are on the rise, an indication that life has really broken down and moral values have become warped and twisted in this part of the country.
There is a correlation between the use of illicit drugs and the spate of youth restiveness in the world. Also, quite an intolerable number of young people in some Igbo communities are said to be having mental issues which tend to impair the quality of their decisions, judgments and actions because of their consumption of the drug. Thus, young people hitherto reputed for being diligent and meticulous at weighing various options before making decisions now seem to have become junkies, largely unconscious of their environment and lacking the mental capacity to evaluate the likely consequences of their decisions and actions. They are now uncharacteristically prone to violence and susceptible to taking precipitate actions because of paranoia and the hallucinatory effects of the use of narcotics, notably mkpuru mmiri.
Worse still, these prohibited drugs seem to be readily available, very ‘potent’ and somewhat cheaper. And that perhaps accounts for its popularity among young people. It should, therefore, not be surprising that the deleterious effects of drug use and abuse are palpable in the south east zone of Nigeria.
It is rather sad that many of our young people have now embraced the destructive culture of illicit drug consumption that promises which is a decisive path to destruction. This will be in addition to the consequences on the society of the ongoing wanton destruction of life and property in our community being orchestrated by misguided youths, most probably under the influence of narcotics.
Unfortunately, while it is pretty easy to start the use of illicit drugs and become addicted, combating the threat of drug addiction is not a piece of cake, especially for a narcotic like crack co***ne & mkpuru mmiri that can be accessed by users with relative ease.
THE DEATH OF OUR BROTHERS FROM OGBENDIDA YESTERDAY IS JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN OF THE NEGATIVE RESULTS OF THIS SCOURGE.
WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP, EDUCATE, SENSITIZE AND STEM THIS EPIDEMIC TIDE OF HARD DRUGS RAVEGING ONICHA AS A WHOLE.
UMU ONICHA SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION, WE CAN NOT CLOSE OUR EYES AND LET OUR YOUTH WHO ARE OUR FUTURE BE DESTROYED BY THIS MANACE.
ONITSHA WAKE UP AND STEM THE TIDE.
