C0DIENE DIET- Nourishing or Detrimental

In Nigeria, the fast rising craze is the “codeine diet”. Most of our youths are now addicted to codeine, they use it to manage their lives problems such as emotional pain and stresses due to the euphoria Codeine produces.

Cødeine is mostly used for the treatment of pain. When taken, Codeine targets pain transmitters but also stimulates the reward center of the brain leaving the user with intense feelings of well being and pleasure. This feeling is what leads to both psychological and physical dependence.

After prolonged use, an individual develops a tolerance for this substance and need to take more and more of the drug in other feel the effects.

Most people go as far as taking Cødeine with other substances such as alcohol etc, to increase the calming and euphoric feeling. Other people may take Codeine with stimulants like cocaine, rohypnol or “meth” in other to reduce the severity of unwanted side effects of the stimulants. This combination of uppers and downers can lead to cardiovascular failures.

Financial problems, domestic problems, loss of productivity at school or work, impaired social relationships, liver and kidney damage, muscle spams, cramps, pains, seizures, major depression, respiratory depression- slowly takes your breath and ultimately coma are the side effects of the use of codeine.

Unfortunately, the economic state of this nation has driven both the “lazy Nigerian youths”,“ the “CEO’s”, “the 8-5’s” and sadly our secondary school students to find solace in the hands of drug abuse. “Like I can’t even share a drink with someone if I’m not sure of its contents. Coke bottle is absolutely a No No for me.”

With most of our artistes singing about these drugs -I believe the government should also ban the promotion of drug abuse in any song,forgetting that they’re models to children and young adults who learn that drug abuse is an acceptable way of coping with problems. I stand with the millions of healthcare providers to tell you that drug abuse has never been and will never be the way out of our lives problems. 

In as much as the government are not helping matters. We now have several private parastatals (e.g Tony Elumelu Foundation) that are aimed to train, provide for and help establish youths that do not want to be in the “lazy Nigerian youth” category. Even churches such as DayStar amongst others have all joined in the struggle to raise better youths.

We ultimately have no excuse to be a lazy Nigerian youth on a Codeine diet.

With the recent ban on the production of Codeine, withdrawal symptoms of addicts might begin to manifest. They include craving of the drug, intense sweating, chills, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations. Please kindly contact a healthcare provider when such situation arises.

Kindly help share this post so our affected youths can be enlightened and hopefully slow down on their codeine diet. 

Do have a fulfilled week.

Pharm G B. IDAMKUE

Reference:

1. link Accessed on the 11th of May, 2018

2. link Accessed on the 12th of May, 2018