A Graduate's Struggle: From Academic Aspirations to Crystal Meth Addiction

Drugs and substance abuse among university students are recognized as a major public health concern globally, with increasing prevalence despite various intervention efforts.

For numerous young Nigerians aiming for higher education, university life embodies hope, aspirations, and a route to a more promising future. However, for Muhammad Salisu (a pseudonym), an accounting graduate from a university in Abuja, it signified the onset of a challenging addiction to drugs, a struggle that continues to affect him even years after graduation. In an interview with Weekend Trust, he recounts his introduction to drug use and addiction, his rehabilitation attempts, and the circumstances that led to his relapse.

Salisu's journey into substance use began innocently during his university days, influenced by a girlfriend already involved with drugs. This choice plunged him into a lifestyle that quickly spiraled beyond his control.

What commenced as an undergraduate experiment did not cease upon graduation; rather, it persisted into his adult life, impacting his career and family dynamics.

Currently, he finds himself in rehabilitation once more, having relapsed after his initial treatment failed.

“This is my second time here due to a relapse which can happen for various reasons,” he shared quietly.

He explained that illness and a lack of belief from his parents significantly contributed. After falling ill, his parents prematurely assumed he had resumed drug use, which bred feelings of anger and emotional distress in him, ultimately leading him back to addiction.

The repercussions were profound; his parents faced continuous anxiety while he grappled with feelings of guilt, frustration, and shame.

“Starting drug use is simple, but quitting is a significant struggle. You might want to quit in your heart, but it requires patience, prayer, and strong determination,” he remarked.

As the eldest son, he carries the burden of familial expectations. He candidly admitted to not living up to the hopes his family and society held for him. “I have not been a commendable representative of my family or a role model for my younger siblings,” he conceded.

Interestingly, Salisu now dedicates much of his time to advising his siblings against choosing the perilous path he once walked.

He encourages them to prioritize their education and to disregard the discord between him and their father.

“Drugs and education are mutually exclusive. You cannot do both,” he emphasizes to them.

He recalled that his first rehabilitation was voluntary; he had approached his father, requesting a salary deduction for his treatment.

In contrast, his second admission followed a relapse instigated by mistrust and emotional turmoil. Filled with regret, he expressed sorrow to his father, kneeling in tears and pledging that this would be his final effort at recovery.

Beyond his personal narrative, Salisu perceives the alarming levels of drug abuse among Nigerian youths.

“It is a dead-end road. There is no academic success or career advancement; even employment does not lead to progress,” he cautioned.

He noted that addiction erodes users' dignity and respect, even within their immediate families.

“Your younger siblings will not have regard for you,” he pointed out, observing that often his warnings go unheeded because of his own past.

He described marriage as an elusive goal. Although he hopes to settle down someday, he recognizes the impracticality of marrying given his current circumstances.

“No woman I marry now deserves to suffer because of my condition,” he admitted.

Reflecting on the evolution of his addiction, he disclosed that it commenced with codeine syrup between 2014 and 2016, transitioning to crack cocaine until 2022, and subsequently involving ICE, commonly referred to as Crystal meth—a substance he classifies as the most perilous.

“Crystal meth obliterates your peace. It isolates you from others, deteriorates your physique, diminishes your confidence, and negatively impacts your mental health,” he elaborated.

Consequently, he ceased attending work, and although he received a good salary, he explained that his earnings rarely lasted more than a few days.

He stated that a significant portion of the drug supply is sourced from Raymond Village, a location notorious for drug activity. He cautioned that even post-rehabilitation, returning to that area poses substantial danger.

According to him, dealers often target individuals who appear robust or financially sound, enticing them with free drugs.

He detailed an experience where, following his earlier rehabilitation, a dealer gifted him N12,000 worth of drugs because he admired Salisu's phone valued over N500,000.

Shortly after, he lost the phone in exchange for drugs worth less than N100,000.

“You don’t hesitate; Crystal meth clouds your judgment,” he explained.

He ultimately believes that his story mirrors a broader crisis confronting Nigerian youth—one that tends to be overlooked until it reaches a critical point.

“There is no gain in drugs; it offers momentary pleasure but results in lasting loss,” he emphasized.

As he continues his rehabilitation, he aspires for his experiences to serve as a warning. For him, this journey towards recovery is no longer solely about saving himself, but also about steering others away from the destructive road he traveled.

He pointed out, “While in school, I wasn’t using crystal meth. I was on codeine and my grades were fine. I graduated with commendable results—without bribes or extra help.”

Yet, despite maintaining good academic performance, his social interactions were gradually reconstructed around his addiction.

A Double Life on Campus

“The drugs pushed me into a social circle dominated by fellow users. So, it became a customary association among users,” he recounted. He clarified that interactions with other students were friendly yet superficial—limited to mere acquaintances.

His connections with classmates were friendly but somewhat removed, a statement that applies even more severely to his relationships with professors.

“I merely attended lectures; there was nothing beyond that. Due to the drugs, I sought not to bond with them. I wanted to detach,” he shared.

He characterized his university experience as one of functional isolation, where he presented physically in class, tended to succeed academically, yet emotionally distanced himself for the most part.

Easy Access

Regarding his supply routes, he mentioned the alarming ease of access to drugs, making it quite startling.

“There is a place known as Galadimawa in Abuja, near my school. We frequently sourced our supplies from there. The cough syrup could be bought at a pharmacy, no doctor's prescription needed. We just went there to obtain it,” he revealed.

He noted that costs ranged between N600 to N2,000 per bottle, based on the brand, claiming pharmacy personnel were aware that the syrup wasn't being utilized for legitimate medical purposes.

“He knows we use it recreationally, not for medical needs,” he asserted.

Weekend Trust observes that this ease of procurement emphasizes ongoing regulatory challenges related to controlled medications and the fine line between legitimate pharmaceutical sales and their misuse.

Rehabilitation and Relapse

After his last discharge and subsequent family reunion, he faced another relapse.

He articulated that the triggers were not just cravings but feelings of loss of control. “This stems from rules imposed by my parents. Many rehabilitated individuals find themselves reverting to drugs due to stringent restrictions from their parents,” he noted.

He described rehabilitation as an already highly constraining experience: three to four months devoid of phones, internet access, or freedom.

“After being returned home, the same kind of rules are imposed on you. It feels similar to being in rehabilitation again, albeit in your home,” he expressed.

He observed that the transition from institutional to home-based control felt suffocating, as it lacked clinical support and felt more like confinement.

Who Pays the Price?

The financial burden of repeated rehabilitation sessions is high. His first treatment was self-financed, his second was paid by his father, and now, for the third time, he is financially responsible.

He earns around N400,000 a month, a stable income that starkly contrasts with the instability caused by his addiction. He is educated, employed, articulate, and successful, yet remains ensnared in a cycle influenced by personal decisions, systemic deficiencies, and familial tensions.

Recent Developments

The Sokoto State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the rehabilitation of 18 drug-dependent individuals who have been successfully reintegrated into their families over the last five months.

At a recent press briefing at the command headquarters, the state commander, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad Gidado, expressed concern regarding a lack of equipment for skill acquisition at the rehabilitation center, emphasizing its necessity for overall recovery and reintegration of the affected individuals.

He requested support from both the Sokoto State Government and philanthropic citizens, noting that the center accommodates individuals grappling with addiction from various regions.

Gidado highlighted other achievements of the command in recent months, which include the arrest of 146 individuals—among them a 72-year-old man—and the confiscation of 982.8 kilograms of illegal drugs.

He reported that 13 suspects had already been convicted, while another 18 are presently awaiting trial.

The seized items included 54 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup intercepted along the Nigeria-Niger border, as well as 15 bags of cannabis sativa hidden in sacks of sawdust transported from Edo State to Sokoto.

Additional confiscated items comprised 198 blocks of cannabis sativa, diazepam, and other illicit substances.

Gidado attributed the command’s successes to the cooperation of the Sokoto State Government, effective collaboration with other security agencies, and invaluable public intelligence.

He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s dedication to combating drug abuse and trafficking in the state, underscoring the importance of sustained public cooperation for achieving this aim.

“We appeal to the public to continue assisting us with actionable information leading to the apprehension of offenders. Rest assured, all tips will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he assured.

Expert Insights

In an interview with Weekend Trust, the chairman of the Centre for the Sensitisation Against Drug Abuse (CESADA), Alhaji Abdurrazaq Shehu, lamented some parents' complicity—inadvertently or otherwise—in introducing their children to drug use.

“Certain parents who smoke or use drugs often send their kids to procure substances for them. By doing this, they unwittingly expose their children to these drugs,” he pointed out.

Alhaji Shehu characterized the escalating rate of drug abuse amongst youths and married women as grave. He cited recent data indicating that over 14 million Nigerians currently engage in drug use, with projections that this figure could soar to 30 million by 2030 without immediate intervention.

He remarked, “The primary victims are the youth, many of whom are influenced by the very guardians supposed to shield them.”

He identified several contributing factors, including peer pressure, ignorance, ready access to drugs, and environmental exposure.

“Many youths become victims simply based on their living locations where drugs are readily available,” he stated.

Shehu called for a collaborative effort to address this crisis, urging parents, government officials, religious and traditional authorities, alongside civil society groups, to join forces in reversing this alarming trend.

He noted that CESADA, operational for over two decades, continues to conduct awareness campaigns throughout Sokoto State, albeit with financial limitations.

He appealed for assistance from the state government, donor entities, and well-meaning citizens, particularly as the center anticipates introducing rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives for those affected by drug abuse.