Expert attributes drug abuse to socio-economic crises

Expert attributes drug abuse to socio-economic crises
NAN-HG-6
Psychiatric
By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, Jan. 9, 2018 (NAN) The Head of Psychiatric Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), Dr Suleiman Dauda, has attributed the increase in psychiatric cases in the facility to socio-economic crises and drug abuse.
Dauda made this known on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
According to him, observation has indicated that in the recent past about 100 patients attends weekly clinic in the facility.
“In this clinic we consulted 100 patients during our clinic day; by our observation the increase in the psychiatric patients is due to socio-economic hardship, insurgency and drug abuse.
“We have lots of patients coming from neighbouring states that were affected by insurgency in the north-east, due to post psychiatric trauma,’’ he said.
Dauda said that most of the patients were mostly male, ranging from teenagers to those in their late 20s.
“Even those that have the genetic history, but sometimes the ailment is triggered by an action.
“It still fall back to government, more should be done in curbing communal clashes because the trauma of such events leave victims with psychiatric trauma.
“Job should be created to end idleness among our teeming youths, idleness contributes to lots of social vices,’’ he said.
Speaking on some symptoms of the ailment, Dauda listed lack of sleep, headache and internal heat, among others.
He appreciated the various strategies employed by government and other stakeholders in creating public awareness towards seeking medical attention of such patients to reduce mental illness.
While acknowledging the effort of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Dauda urged them to put more efforts to end the menace it caused to human life, especially the youths.
“The youths are the engine room of the society,’’ he noted. (NAN)
AE/COO/MST
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Muhammad Suleiman Tola