As concern grew over the addictive use of codeine-based cough syrups by Nigerian youths, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health has banned the importation and production of the drug.
The government aim is to target the illicit trade in the drug. A cough syrup with codeine is available in the market for as cheap as N400 ($1.10). It is illegal to sell codeine cough syrups without a doctor’s prescription but the rule is flouted with impunity. The drug is available across Nigeria without an impediment. All you need do is to just walk into another drug store or pharmacist, flash your cash and you will get the drug without no question asked.
The harmful effects of the addictive use of the drug were brought to the fore through a documentary on BBC. The investigative report on the BBC also shows the complicity of pharmaceutical companies. An executive with Emzor Pharmaceutical was filmed cutting a deal to illegally supply cough syrup bottles. He boasted of how far he could sell 1000 cartoons of the drug within few days.
The investigative report also shows how those affected by the drug are chained for days in the rehabilitation centre in Kano. Those addicted to the drug at risk of suffering from effects of sustained opioid abuse ranging from schizophrenia to organ failure.
The illicit and addictive consumption of codeine-based cough syrup is prevalent the northern part of the country due largely because of the ban on alcohol in accordance with the dictate of the Islamic religion. This drug and others have been mentioned with euphoria in a number of songs by hip-hop artists.
The Senate last year claimed that around three million bottles of codeine syrups were consumed daily in two northern states alone. Last month, the anti-drug agency seized a truckload of 24,000 bottles of codeine cough syrups in a single incident. This is clearly a measure of the scale of the problem.
Banning production and importation of the drug by the government wouldn’t be enough, with our porous borders, bringing in addictive and opioid such as cough syrup with codeine, Tramadol, cobwebs, lizard dung, monkey tail and others is an easy task. Benin, which borders Nigeria’s west, is the second largest destination for Indian Tramadol globally.
The government must speak with India and other countries who are producing and exporting drugs to Africa to desist. We should also seek cross-border collaborations to curb the flow and distribution of these harmful drugs. Otherwise, this ban is just a cosmetic, media hype.
