By Casmir Nwafor
The country has been awash for weeks with news about abuse of drugs by inhabitants in Northern Nigeria especially the female folks. Instead of finding lasting solutions to the menace, the FG as usual resorted to blame games on the cause of the problem. While some agents of FG blamed it on porous borders, the government media men pointed accusing fingers at Igbo traders.
This is in a country where there are regulatory agencies whose duties include monitoring of production, distribution and consumption of drugs and beverages. It’s not surprising because this is what happens when you rely on “strong” person rather than strong institutions to salvage a nation. If these agencies were efficient in the discharge of their duties, perhaps we wouldn’t be where we are today. Surprisingly, no one has been sacked, suspended or sanctioned in any way for this ignominy. What we did as a nation in the 21st Century was to ban an ingredient needed to produce medicine for the good of the larger population.
Codeine in drugs is an analgesic for the relief of mild to moderate pain; it is also used for treatment of unproductive cough and diarrhea: it is also very efficient in the treatment of acute, moderate pain which is not considered to be relieved by other analgesics such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
However, despite its advantages, codeine related drugs are to be taken only on doctor’s prescription. It’s not to be administered without medical monitoring on children below 12 years old. In a research conducted by Accord U Ltd, this is because of the risk of opioid toxicity due to the variable and unpredictable metabolism of codeine to morphine. Other side effects include immune system disorder, nervous system disorder, respiratory, thoracic and mediastina disorders as well as renal and urinary disorder. It also impairs ability to drive or use machines. For these and other dangers, it is to be used with caution and under prescription. Hence, institutions of government were created to ensure sanity in our health industry. These institutions were to monitor these and other related drugs but failed woefully in the discharge of their duties.
The unlawful use of codeine related drugs is wrong but the BAN on such drugs is another wrong that cannot make a right. Some of these pharmaceutical companies have already produced tens of thousands of such drugs even minutes before the ban. How then are they to sell the drugs or are they to close shops because government agencies failed to do their work or because some spoilt children decided to feast on the drugs as their opium. The ban is not only counterproductive but unlawful and therefore legally challengeable.
These companies do not sell to individuals rather they supply to hospitals and other major drug outlets and therefore shouldn’t be blamed for abuse of drugs. Regulatory agencies should wake up from slumber in their duties. Today, it’s the pharmaceutical industries, who knows the next industry? The government should lift the ban to avoid endangering thousands of jobs and upkeep of their dependents.
May be we should begin today to build strong institutions rather than rely on strongly questionable individuals with fake integrity credentials.
Casmir Nwafor, a retired Army Captain is seeking to represent the good people of Orumba North/South Federal Constituency in Anambra State under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He writes from Oko in Anambra State.
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