A hazardous chemical substance known on the street as “suck-and-die” is creating a wave of addiction among young Nigerians, posing severe health risks and drawing alarm from national authorities. The narcotic, a cheap and easily accessible inhalant, is gaining notoriety for its fleeting high and potential to cause sudden death, turning teenagers and young adults into addicts.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised public alerts about the rise of such dangerous substances, which are often concealed under sinister street names. Investigations reveal that the substance is consumed by inhaling chemical vapours directly from containers or using methods like “bagging,” where fumes are trapped in a plastic bag to intensify the intoxicating effect. These practices aggressively attack the central nervous system.
Authorities have linked the substance to methylene chloride and have initiated crackdowns on its distribution. In one instance, the Bauchi State Police Command arrested a dealer and recovered numerous bottles of the substance, which were being sold for as little as ₦300 per bottle. Similar operations by the NDLEA in Kano have led to the dismantling of drug joints and the seizure of the inhalant.
Public health advocates emphasise that preventing initial drug use through mandated education in schools is critical. They stress that addiction is a disease that is extremely difficult to control and even harder to cure, urging for proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable youths from these destructive substances.
