Two Shocking Things We Can’t Believe Exist

The past month has been an unbelievably interesting one for the students of tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. What haven’t they seen or heard within the space of a week?! From crazy dance steps to head-banging rap lyrics, to mouth-dropping stories about addiction, substance abuse and pain.

For four days, the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) led by MTN, made stops around institutions in the popular city.

The students of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, College of Health Science and Technology and Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt, have also shown that they did not come to school to play.

Let’s just say it has been a crazy couple of days.

So far, we have heard about these two things that we are shocked exists and they are:

1. Poison Box

Have you ever heard of the ‘poison box’? Well, we had never heard of it till last month too.

So, there are certain pills/medicine that pharmacists are supposed to be extremely careful with. They are not to give it out without a Doctor’s prescription and they are to enter the record of each sale in a ‘poison box’. It sounds so sinister, right.

That’s because it is, sort of. And you won’t believe it – pills like Tramadol, Diazepam are supposed to be locked in that box! Yet we see it everywhere? Hmmmm…

People drinking Monkey Tail

2. Monkey Tail

If you don’t know what this means, that’s a great sign. Monkey tail is the mixture of local gin ‘ogogoro’ and marijuana ‘igbo’. Local gin is allowed to brew for a few days, in Marijuana leaves, stems, roots or leaves.

So depending on the unit of intoxication (UOI) desired, it gives two different forms of ‘high’ at the same time – the ogogoro and Igbo.

The very worst thing is what young people are using this mixture for. It has allegedly become a popular date rape drug, once again. It is said to have risen in popularity during the 80s and 90s. Now it’s sometimes being served as ‘punch’.

Heroin, syringe and spoon

Bonus:  Heroin

We know it exists, but it’s something we wish we could make disappear. Actually, it’s more like heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and every illicit substance out there.

The enthusiast in all of us wishes it could all disappear in the blink of an eye. If there were no ‘hard drugs’ people won’t use, right? Nope! People will just find very funny ways to abuse very normal, everyday substances like glue, codeine, vitamin c!

The best solution will be to make conscious decision to not use substances, be vigilant, surround yourself with positive energy and most of all, be careful! And to crown it all, you can help spread the word and volunteer to save a life.