It was an afternoon that went remarkably well. The sales activation on that campus around Apata, Ibadan, got off to a fantastic start. We had a dance competition and a talent hunt, and the response was overwhelming.

Students trooped out to watch the electrifying performances. I took the mic to address them and announce the winners, and suddenly, a young man approached me. I saw his very menacing look, and I braced myself. Then, he shouted at me, demanding money.

The moment he opened his mouth, I knew he was high on drugs. His tongue was blue. I ignored him, but he followed me right to my car. We zoomed off.

Later that day, I learned that after we left, he became aggressive and even jumped onto a moving vehicle carrying my team. He used a stone to scratch the vehicle, leaving visible marks all over it. 

I wanted to take the matter up, but the Students’ Union Government of that campus intervened and pleaded on his behalf. It turned out he had been expelled for substance abuse.

A silent crisis is brewing. Young men and women are trapped in the web of drug addiction, and we can no longer look away. It’s time to take action! Share on X

This incident wasn’t my first close encounter with the reality of drug addiction. A while back, I spoke at a seminar for young people about the dangers of substance abuse. As I walked around the hall, someone discreetly slipped a tiny piece of paper into my hand. When I opened it, I saw a desperate cry for help.

The note was from a young man who attends a private university. He was struggling with drug addiction, introduced to the habit by his roommate. His parents had no idea. He even attended church with them regularly. Yet, behind the scenes, he was fighting a silent battle.

In January 2020, “Colorado” trended on Twitter (now X). Curious, I followed the conversation, and what I discovered left me deeply disturbed. Colorado is a slang term for a dangerous cocktail of psychotropic drugs that can wreak untold havoc on the mind. 

I saw videos of people who had taken it—some disoriented, some screaming, others convulsing or shaking as if possessed by an external force. In one of the videos, they kept slapping a young man, while another one kept drinking water uncontrollably. 

One particular girl’s case was pathetic as she rolled helplessly on the ground. The scenes were heartbreaking. I can’t even share those videos; they’re painful to watch.

Someone once told me about a young man who took one of these drugs and slipped into a coma for three days. He never woke up. He was buried shortly after.

Many commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) sniff gum—a cheap drug that makes them ride recklessly. People have died cheaply because of okada riders who sniffed glue before a ride.

Everywhere you turn, you see young men and women looking for a high. Walk into an average lounge, and you’ll notice how easily drugs are passed around. Some people carry soda bottles everywhere they go, but don’t be fooled—many of those bottles are laced with drugs.

I once had to check out of a hotel sometime in 2019 because someone was smoking weed in the room next to mine. When I complained, the manager simply said they had warned the person multiple times.

There are no reliable statistics, but from what I’ve seen, just as many young women as men are caught in this trap.

We have a serious problem with substance abuse, yet we are playing the ostrich. If we don’t tackle it now, in ten years, we’ll be facing a crisis with junkies everywhere and crime rates skyrocketing.

Every drug addict was once a first-time user. Let’s stop the cycle before it starts. Share on X

The solution is clear: We need more rehabilitation centres, and the government must commit more resources to enlightening citizens on the danger of substance abuse. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has to be more proactive, shifting from reactionary measures to strategic prevention.

Religious centres have to get involved. Parents need to educate their children early. We can’t afford to fold our hands anymore. The future is at stake, and we must act decisively to protect it.