Youths in Borno drink fermented human urine preserved for days and other substances in place of taking hard drugs, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency has revealed.

Disclosing this in a statement in Maiduguri on Thursday, NDLEA commander of narcotics in Borno, Iliyasu Mani, lamented the prevalent abuse of psychoactive substances among youths.

The commander also revealed that they also take other unusual substances such as lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks, inhale toilet fumes and gutter dirt, amongst others, to intoxicate themselves.

Mr Mani said, “Let me state categorically here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly abused today include cannabis sativa, skunk, cough syrup with codeine; Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung.

“Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, mentholated spirit in soft drinks, 10-day-old human urine, and so on.”

Noting his command’s hard battle against drug abuse, Mr Mani admitted that “the issue of substance abuse is even getting challenging, especially with the involvement of young teens in the abuse of new psychoactive substances, especially women.”

“Despite all these, we must not lose our hope as the agency has strengthened its efforts towards prevention strategy through the establishment of remodelled counselling/rehab centre within the premises of Borno state command,” the commander said.

According to him, the command had seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances and arrested 863 suspects, out of which 53 had been convicted, while 736 are undergoing counselling.

Mr Mani, however, added that the command had established drop-in centres across all tertiary institutions to serve as drug abuse research centres.