By Bright Okereke, Chigozie Uzosike
Following the horrific damages of Crystal Meth or Methamphetamine otherwise known popularly in Igbo parlance as Mkpuru mmiri and Ice or glass on the streets of Lagos.
The Killing and destroying rate of ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ can only be compared to novel Covid-19 pandemic yet Mkpuru mmiri is a more worse killer because it would first distort your reasonability, inflict the consumer with crass before sniffing life out the sufferer.
This fast deepening craze is continuously recruiting more youths into the killer addiction of Mkpuru mmiri consumption. According to the result from cursory research, if the trend continues, the deadly substance would harvest an unprecedented number of our youths to early and shameful death if the spread is waged and met with stronger resistance.
Health and medical experts have revealed that Mkpuru mmiri (Methamphetamine) is a highly addictive and illegal psycho stimulant drug that is similar to amphetamine. It is used for its powerful euphoric effects, which are similar but far stronger than cocaine and other dangerous herbal cannabis with more and longer lasting effects than cocaine.
It is said to be cheaper and easy to make with commonly available ingredients and materials. It has also proved that ever since this substance made entry into the local and villages in Igbo-land, the consumption has increased with more dangerous and disastrous effects on the ignorant youths who took it just for show of exuberance and highness. Many of the desirous consumers ended up in circumstances they least expected.
Many elderly people who spoke with News Echo correspondents who were in the field for this survey, said they are now highly reserved and do not scold the youths anymore doing wrongs because they descend on any person, not minding the age or class.
“They fight to kill or maim without minding the consequences. And this curse is most rampant among the idle youths who have chosen the path of destruction”. A traditional ruler, said.
This ugly development is seriously trending in most of the communities and towns within the South East, South South and South West Zones of the Country.
Some communities have banned masquerades festival because, it has been discovered that most ingest excessive ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’, before and during the festival and as a result cause untold mayhem while the festival holds sway. On very many occasions, addicts of this substance do untold things such as raping of old women, very young girls and even married women publicly, just to expend the excessive effect of the drug.
Though, male youths are not alone in this hell, many young females have joined the deadly crass in the erroneous name of exposure and trending.
And the menace is sweeping through society, from the high borough of the elites to the slums of the most vulnerable and downtrodden of our society and the government is not challenging the ill wind.
However, many communities in the South East have risen from their slumber to combat the menace of Mkpuru mmiri; For instance, the Oba in Anambra State has through its Youth Task Force placed ban on ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ consumption, imposing 500 lashes on offenders.
Similar punishments are reportedly being implemented at Ekwe, in Isu LGA and some communities in Owerri West LGA of Imo state.
According to a report by Enact Africa, in late 2019, following the dismantling of a lab in Obinugwu village in south-east Nigeria, NDLEA Special Enforcement Team commander Sunday Zirangey reportedly said that meth was a serious threat and that Nigeria risked turning into a narcotic state.
Despite the acute health risks associated with its consumption – such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular-related illness – a growing number of young people in Nigeria especially in the eastern part of the country reportedly take the drug.
According to medical sources, Meth is dangerous, not just because it is composed of toxic chemicals and fillers, but because it severely dehydrates the human body. Your body is something like 80% water; if every system in your body requires hydration to function, regenerate, and perform, you can easily imagine the long term damage caused by persistent and severe dehydration. ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ is known by experts to be one of the hardest drug addictions to treat.
It is very addictive and affects the central nervous system of whoever takes it. It creates a feeling of massive happiness that is very addictive and makes the taker want to fly. When the effect wears off, the taker tries to have that feeling again thereby taking it again.
People in serious addiction of ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ are tattered in dressing and always wearing shabby looks, Always picking at hair or skin, loss of appetite and weight loss, Moving eyes about every time, difficulty in sleeping, staying up for days or even weeks at a time, Always talking, borrowing money often, selling possessions, or stealing, Angry outbursts or mood swings among others.
It causes psychotic behavior, such as paranoia and hallucinations. It also causes high temperature, excessive strength and possible death and there is no drug that can cure Mkpuru mmiri addiction and this makes its intake so dangerous.
‘Mkpuru mmiri’ has made it very fanciful for young men who cherish their sexual virility and ladies who would kill to keep a trim figure. Unfortunately, with increased usage, comes tolerance and dependence, the hallmarks of substance addiction. The repercussions are dire and almost always have long term side effects.
Hyperactivity, manic behaviour, aggressive sexual tendencies and so many more, are some of the side effects of the addiction. Studies have also found a correlation between crystal meth abuse and STIs, including HIV (as a result of the sexual hyperactivity). Overdose is also a possibility with 200 mg considered as fatal.
Unfortunately, in the streets of Onitsha or Owerri, there is no guarantee for reliable measurement during consumption.
The Imo State House of Assembly has also taken serious steps to tackling the scourge of ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ in the state with setting up committee to that effect.
