Crack, colos slowly destr0ying young Nigerians – NBG documentary shows

Crack, colos slowly destroying young Nigerians – NBG documentary shows

Crack cocaine and a synthetic cannabis variant known as “colos” are driving substance abuse among young Nigerians, including addiction which leave users with severe physical, mental and social consequences.

A documentary by NBG Africa featured testimonies from users and addiction counsellors on the increasing prevalence of the substances across communities, campuses and urban centres.

Crack is a processed derivative of cocaine that triggers intense cravings, while colos is a synthetic psychoactive cannabis mixed with harmful chemicals.

Experts in the documentary said although all illicit drugs are harmful, crack and colos pose unique dangers because of their addictive nature and their effects on users’ judgment and behaviour.

They said crack users often develop an increasing desire for the drug regardless of cost, while colos can cause hallucinations, distorted perception and disconnection from reality.

The report noted that many users begin experimenting with drugs out of curiosity, peer influence or the desire to cope with grief, stress, financial hardship and low self-esteem.

Rapheal Nwachukwu, one of the users, said he turned to crack cocaine after losing his job, wife and newborn within a short period.

Nwachukwu, a university graduate, said the drug initially provided temporary relief from emotional pain but eventually became a dependency that worsened his situation.

Another user, Benedict, attributed his addiction to peer influence during his days as a student, saying he initially believed taking drugs enhanced his creativity as an artist before becoming dependent on crack and colos.

Another recovering addict said he first experimented with crack after buying the substance for friends before later relying on it to cope with financial pressure during the COVID-19 lockdown.

NBG Africa said substance abuse is often a symptom of deeper emotional and psychological problems rather than simply a matter of poor choices.

Experts featured in the documentary identified low self-esteem, family instability, emotional trauma, economic hardship and societal pressure as major factors pushing young people towards drug use.

The report said many addicts continue using drugs despite understanding the health risks because dependence makes it difficult to stop without professional support.

According to the documentary, prolonged use of crack cocaine can lead to dental damage, physical deterioration, financial ruin and social isolation, while users of colos may experience impaired judgment and psychotic episodes.

The experts urged greater investment in prevention, counselling and rehabilitation programmes, noting that helping young people develop emotional resilience and life skills is critical to addressing the country’s growing substance abuse challenge.