‘I saw Young Men Sleeping While Standing’ – Singer, Small Doctor Raises Alarm Over Drug Abuse

Nigerian singer, Adekunle Temitope professionally known as Small Doctor, has raised an alarm over the increasing on drug abuse among the youths.

The musician said he was alarmed after visiting a street where he grew up in Lagos State, Nigeria, he said what he saw made him to raises the alarm.

“When I Arrived My Hood, I Saw Some Promising Guys We Grew Up Together Sleeping While Standing”, the artist wrote on X. According to him, someone had told him six years ago to build a rehabilitation centre in Lagos, stressing it’s the ‘new oil’.

“Wasiu Ayinde Told Me 6 Years Ago To Establish A Rehabilitation Centre, Stating It Is The New Oil. That Man Saw The Future.”

“I Strolled Through Hoods On Sunday And What I Saw Was Heart Breaking. The Rate Young Chaps Use Drugs Nowadays Is Alarming.

 

“Most Heartbreaking Was When I Arrived My Hood, I Saw Some Promising Guys We Grew Up Together Sleeping While Standing ‍♂️, Some Were Even Making Some Crazy Postures While Sleeping. So Sad

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, drug use in Nigeria is estimated at 14.4% or 14.3 million people aged between 15 and 64 years.

The most commonly abused drugs include cannabis (10.8%), opioids such as tramadol, codeine, or morphine (4.7%), and cough syrups containing codeine and dextromethorphan (2.4%).

The risk factors for drug abuse in Nigeria include male gender, age 25-39 years, and being a sex worker.

Additionally, studies have shown that reasons for drug abuse among Nigerian adolescents and youths include getting high, forgetting about problems, cheering up when in a bad mood, fitting in with a group, and having fun.