Sold Car to Buy Cocaine – Ex-addict Now Activist

DRIVING TOWARDS RECOVERY –

Jan. 9, 2022 – He, however, stressed that the best way to beat a drug addiction is never to start.

According to the 2018 National Drug Use Survey reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there are 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria.

Out of that figure, 3 million suffer from drug disorders. Drug addiction is a form of drug disorder, according to experts. Sharing his experience with PUNCH HealthWise, Salvage recalled that he started experimenting on cigarettes after watching his father who then was a smoker.

“I grew up in a dysfunctional family, my mom was not around and I used to watch my dad smoke. So, I started experimenting with the butt of cigarettes. By 14 years of age, I was already smoking,” he said.

Salvage disclosed further that by the time he was in SS3, he was already fully puffing cigarettes and added to that, he was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

As with how drug use interferes with one’s life, Salvage recounts that it affected his academics as he was unable to secure admission to the University of Ilorin.

“Due to the type of friends I kept and the drugs, I couldn’t focus on my studies anymore. I failed my pre-degree but lied to my dad and still collected school fees from him,” he said.