If you’ve been on our timeline recently, you must have heard that the Netng partnered with MTN to host the Drug Convos in commemoration of the International Day of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Drug Convos is an MTN Foundation initiative under its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP). It was held as an online event that openly discussed everything about drug and substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians. And yes, we made a lot of noise about it just so we could reach young Nigerians with this important message.
The event held on Friday, June 26, and featured faves like Dakore Egbuson, Ini Edo, Praiz, Nedu, JJ Omojuwa, Folu Storms, and many others as panelists and special guests. The Honourable Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare even made an appearance!
Some of the panelists shared real-life experiences of things they had witnessed that point to how scary this drug abuse menace has become.
For real, some of these stories will literally make you say ‘mad oo!’
1. Getting high on dongoyaro leaves and methylated spirit
Adedokun Adedeji, the Director-General of Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (a faith-based NGO) talked about how dangerous addiction can be. Once a person is used to getting high on a regular basis, it’s very hard for them to stop.
He mentioned the case of a person living with addiction who had been admitted in a hospital for treatment. According to Adedokun, the person in question did not have access to the usual drugs but found a way to mix dongoyaro leaves and methylated spirits into something that would sustain the high.
If we said that we were shook, then it would be an understatement.
2. The teens who use drugs on a regular
Wazobia FM OAP, Nedu was also featured as a panelist during the Drug Convos session powered by MTV Base, and he shared his own experiences with a couple of teenagers in his neighbourhood.
Nedu explained that the teens had some accommodation issues, so he invited them to stay over at his place for a while. After a scary experience where he found them sleeping like dead people, he soon discovered that these teenage sisters were already used to taking addictive substances.
According to Nedu, they couldn’t eat without having weed in their food or go to sleep without downing some codeine.
This story was really heartbreaking to hear.
3. Sharing cups of codeine
Working in the studio as a singer and producer, David Jones David has come to see that drug use is all but normalised in the entertainment space.
He gave an example of young artistes that would come into the studio with several cups of codeine so they could ‘enjoy’ theirs and then offer him a cup, naturally assuming that he would be in on it since everyone else seemed to be doing it.
4. Serving guests with rolls of marijuana
Ini Edo narrated her experience at a party she attended a while ago.
At first, it was the normal fun at any party, but things got serious when some young ladies walked in with trays of rolled marijuana and started serving them to guests. She was even more shocked by the young people involved.
5. Will you be my transporter?
Years ago, Dakore was a 21-year-old student, and like most students you know, there was a time she was broke and really in need of cash.
She was approached by someone who asked if she’d be willing to transport drugs and get paid when she got to the destination. Luckily, Dakore was smart enough to say no to such an offer, but the sad part is that many people are not so lucky.
The Drug convos opened our eyes to the serious problem drug and substance abuse is becoming. It has become normalised in many spaces, and to some people, it’s as mundane as drinking water.
Drugs might make you feel high for a short while, but they have long-lasting effects on your body. Say no to drugs.
