Very recently, the communities in the South East of Nigeria have been thrown into another level of commotion arising from the intake of illicit drugs called Crystal Meth or Methamphetamine otherwise known popularly in Igbo parlance as “Mkpuru mmiri’, ‘gusoro’ among other names.
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 not met with stronger resistance.
Health and medical experts have revealed that Mkpuru mmiri (Methamphetamin) 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 been proven 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 without knowing its negative effects. Many of the consumers ended up in circumstances they least expected.
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.
Consumers of this hard drug do unspeakable things that deviate from/and vitiate the culture of the land. They fight to kill, maim, rape without minding the consequences.
This action is most rampant among the idle youths who have chosen the path of destruction.
This ugly development is seriously trending in most of the communities and towns within the South East and we think that the early this menace is tackled the better for the zone, especially our communities.
The menace is spreading through the society like wild Harmattan fire, especially from the high borough of the elites to the slums of the most vulnerable and downtrodden of our society and we urge the government, CSOs, NGOs, traditional rulers and town unions to challenge this ill wind that may not blow anyone good.
However, many communities in the South East have risen from their slumber to combat the menace of Mkpuru mmiri.
The Houses of Assemblies should enact laws that make intake of illicit drugs especially Mkpuru Mmiri’ a punishable offence in the South East to save the future of the youths and preservation of our culture and traditions.
This menace must be treated with all sense of emergency to save the zone.
