The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has decried the high rate of abuse of unconventional substances among youths in Kaduna State.
The Commander of NDLEA in the state, Malam Mohammed Jibrin, made the condemnation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday.
Jibrin said the abuse of unconventional substances by youths in the state had contributed immensely to the crime rate and other anti-social acts.
“Our youths have gone into the abuse of unconventional substances, such as lizard dung, plantain bars, sniffing of petrol and rubber solution, inhaling the strong stench from pit-latrines and gutters, to get intoxicated,” he said.
According to him, the abuse of substances particularly “goscolo” (local gin), cough syrups and other substances is a source of concern.
Jibrin said that the agency was making efforts to get a law to check the abuse of the substances.
“We are working with the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice on the production of a legal platform for combating the abuse of these unconventional substances,” he said.
Jibrin called on all stakeholders to assist the agency in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state and country at large.
“These hard drugs have contributed to the challenges affecting us, universally. There is the need for all to collaborate with us in fighting these addictions, as well as proffer solutions to it,” she said.