Codeine ban: Open season for black-market operations
The recent ban on codeine announced by the minister of health Isaac Adewole could lead to illegal production and importation of the drug, experts have said.
The Nigerian Senate in October 2017 estimated that about three million bottles of codeine are consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa States alone. Millions of bottles are consumed all over the country which is rising to epidemic proportions with grave consequences for the youths.
However, many Nigerians say the directive by the Federal Government is reactive and not well thought out.
Lanre Yusuf, a medical practitioner based in Lagos said, “It a good development for the country but I have mixed feelings on the ban of codeine drugs .The drug in question can be very powerful, opium drug for cough syrup and some pain killers.
“The federal government of Nigeria placing a ban on the production and importation is not enough, there should be a strict enforcement follow up on licensed companies so as to avoid open market and other illegal smuggling into the country.
“Certainly, for a short time, black market might boom, but with proper enforcement and supervision with time, it will be down. Replacing it with dextromethorphan which is less addictive, might result in issues when it comes to managing patients because we use alternatives and codeine is a very effective drug for treatment,” Yusuf said.
Codeine syrup addiction is a problem across Africa, with reports of addiction in Kenya, Ghana, Niger, and Chad. In 2016, India banned multiple brands of codeine cough syrup following reports of addition
Richard Adebayo, consultant Psychiatrist/clinical Psychologist at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos said codeine is a very serious concern in the country and abuse of it is prevalent in northern part of country.
“Banning codeine is not the solution; it will make people shift to illegal production and importation,” Adebayo said.
According to Adebayo, the abuse of these drugs has effect of altering the brain function. “Gone are the days people look at cannabis and other substances, codeine is a big problem and it should be tackled effectively.
“Public enlightenment will help to educate people s to know how bad the effect of these drug can be and also the government needs to strengthen the NAFDAC, NDLEA so as to do the work and the mental health bill should be passed so people can be taken care of,” said Adebayo
Many reactions on social media were also along the same line. “Banning is good but there’s always the black market. With the bans in place, proper education and rehab centres will permanently curb this uprising of drug abuse. If not, the black market will have a field day. Drugs will be more scarce and expensive; abusers will become desperate and more dangerous,” said a Tweet from Teetee Tor @pitchblack_2.
“Banning codeine won’t do much good. Closing the open drug market and creating strict drug distribution is the key,” another said.
“The problem is really not banning codeine; the problem is the chaotic drug distribution network in the country. So long as non-pharmacists keep handling drugs, we will keep going round and round a vicious circle. Soon, we will run out of our options when it comes to antibiotics,” another user said.
Codeine abuse can lead to common side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness. Other severe side effects include shallow breathing, low blood pressure, seizures, urination problems, confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.
Further abuse of codeine, such as mixing it with alcohol or other sedatives, can also lead to respiratory damage.
Addiction to the drug can lead to physical dependence which occurs when a person’s brain and body becomes so used to the presence of the opiate that if they suddenly stop taking it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms like severe shaking of the body, shock, and even schizophrenia.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH