By: Abdulrahman Yahaya
The documentation by the British Broadcasting Commission (BBC) on the abuse of the cough syrup codeine has resulted to media debates on the ugly trend. It was stated in the documentation that the abuse of this intoxicating (if taken too much) syrup happens mostly in northern part of this country.
However, it is not only codeine that is being abused, there are other cough syrups like: Tutolin, benelyn, exiplon, emzolyn etc. These syrups have primary functions of curing cough and catarrh, and a spoon of these syrups can predispose one to at the very least 2 hours sleep.
For those who drink the syrups for a purpose other than curing cough or catarrh, a spoon take is far too small to make them “high”. They would quaff the whole substance in the bottle, and as a result, they would be as high as hell. They sleep while walking and walk while sleeping. This is the terrible condition these syrups put them. I once met a guy in this terrible condition and the young man suggested that the earth should be roofed, to shed us from the sun. Can you Imagine?
The ones that are deep in it, are not contented with the syrups. They add to it “Indian Hemp” locally known as “wee wee” or Igboo”. Smoking weed is the shortest way to insanity, but sadly young boys and even girls smoke it with passion. There is these one they call “shisha” before you come up with the lame excuse that shisha is not intoxicating, let me ask: of what benefit it is? won’t you be better off doing something beneficial? 247 your mouth is letting out smoke. Haba! You are not a motor exhaust nah!
Drinking syrups and smoking weed precipitate one into becoming a nuisance in the society. These intoxicants make them feel unassailable, therefore they can do and undo, and they begin to pick fights daily. Most of these addicts are poor, and when the urge to drink syrups or smoking comes they end up stealing. What a mess!
This ugly trend happens as a result of many factors, but just like they say ” charity begins at home” bulk of the blame goes to parents. We are in an era, where we have parents without parenting.
For many, parenting ends at giving birth. These days many children are not being brought up but are allowed to grow up like grasses. In a situation, where parents have little or no time to guide their children parentally. They will be guided by the streets, and of course bad spreads faster than good.
So many think having a special “koboko” (cane) and having your children always at the receiving end of it, is the only way to make children disciplined. That is old fashion, these days if you want your children to be morally upright: you will have to do more of counselling. If you have to cane a child, do it in a humane way, else you will lost him/her to the streets. I don’t need to tell you what happens after then. You know to well.
Some think parenting is only when you provide your children with all their needs, it is much more than that. Every child needs a guide, that will show him or her what really the dos and donts are. If you have no time for you kid, you won’t know the company they keep. No matter how busy you are create time for you kids. For their future is of utmost importance and they need you to guide them to the future.
Some parents love their children to an extreme extent that they can’t scold nor admonish them. For them, their children are eggs and should be pampered. This are the ones that would fight a teacher for punishing their children. If you love your children, you will make them cry when the need arises “you spare the rod, you spoil the child”
The embargo on the importation of codeine is a welcome development but it is not enough to curb the abuse of syrups. These distributors are destructively wise, codeine has been banned, yes, but these guys will still sell it in different bottles. Moreover, cough syrups like: Benelyn, Emzolyn, Tutolin, pakalin C & C ( cough and cold) etc are still very much around. The government should increase surveillance on these unscrupulous elements that give out these drugs without prescription.
If you are a parent out there, take this from me : nothing comes before the future of your children, put yourself all out not only to see that they are well fed but to give them the best of training morally.
I rest my case.