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It is unfortunate that despite the harmful effects of unregulated alcoholic and herbal concoctions, some Nigerians still take them without restraint. About 182 people were reported to have been affected recently after taking such substances in some parts of Ondo State. No fewer than 48 of them eventually died. Five people were rendered totally blind and two others partially blind. Many others ended up in various hospitals.
The incident, which affected such communities as New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, and Oniparaga, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, created panic among the populace. The health crisis later spread to Irele LGA where about eight people died.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, attributed the crisis to the victims’ consumption of methanol. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed Ajaka’s claim.
The agency said preliminary findings “are gravely concerning: 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for cannabis indica, and gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol – a highly toxic substance that causes blindness, organ failure, and death.”
Ironically, despite these inherent dangers, many Nigerians still resort to taking different herbal concoctions, either to experiment with them or to cure some ailment. This is due mainly to the poverty level in the country, which has made the cost of lab test, drugs or treatment unaffordable. Hence, without any form of test to ascertain the cause of their illness, many people take these concoctions most of which have no dosage. The side effects are also not known.
According to some studies, substance abuse rates among the youth and secondary school students in urban areas are between 20 per cent and 40 per cent. Among the most commonly abused ones are Codeine, Tramadol, sedatives, ammonia, spirits, and cough syrup.
Mostly affected or damaged are the liver, kidney, and other vital internal organs of the body. Even among the youths, the rate of the prevalence of some terminal illnesses is high.
Sudden death, which cuts across different social strata and age groups, is also on the increase. Smoking, substance abuse, heavy consumption of alcohol, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are some of the risk factors of this sudden death. Unsurprisingly, the average life expectancy in Nigeria is about 56.05 years. This is below the global average of about 73.7 years.
As a cautionary measure, NAFDAC warned against the purchase or consumption of unlicensed, unregistered, and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition. It urged people to seek immediate medical attention when they experience symptoms such as sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty in breathing, or altered consciousness after consuming such substances.
Also, the Odigbo LGA has banned the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the affected areas until the conclusion of investigation on the issue.
We urge the Ondo State police command to fulfill its promise to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to take appropriate action against the culprits. Already, the police were reported to have arrested one Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as Meko, for the alleged production of the deadly substance. Also arrested are 14 other persons alleged to have violated the ban on the sale of herbal products.
NAFDAC and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should intensify efforts to rid Nigerian markets and other public places of the illegal importation, sale and use of illicit drugs or substances and unapproved herbal concoctions.
Realising that this problem is more prevalent among the youth, the Federal Government recently approved mandatory drug integrity test for newly admitted students in secondary schools across Nigeria. Both new and returning students are also expected to undergo random and periodic screenings at least once every academic session. Those who repeatedly test positive after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation procedures will be temporarily suspended. This is to curb drug and substance abuse among young people in Nigeria.
State governments should key into this decision and ban or regulate the sale and use of illicit substances, including roadside herbal mixtures. Anambra State’s Homeland Security Law, for instance, has provisions against the use, manufacture or sale of illicit drugs and other hard substances in the state. Any property where hard drugs are used, manufactured, or sold in any part of the state is forfeited and demolished by the state government.
It is good that the Ondo State Government has reportedly commenced a review of the regulatory framework governing the preparation, production, distribution, sale and consumption of locally prepared herbal and alcoholic products.
Both the federal and state governments should help to build well-equipped and affordable health care system so that citizens will not patronise adulterated and herbal concoctions. The relevant government agency in conjunction with civil society and faith-based organisations should embark on enlightenment campaigns to sensitise people on the dangers of taking herbal mixtures that have no information about dosage and side effects.
