With the ban of codeine, following the drug expose by the BBC, and the subsequent scarcity of the psychotropic substance, many young, low-income drug addicts have now resorted to sniffing the fumes from pit latrine, while several others have fallen back on lizard dung, as a substitute.
According to Dr Misbau Lawal, coordinator Health and Environment in the Basic Registry and Information of Nigeria(BRISIN), when inhaled, latrine fume causes narcosis on the central nervous system, the same effect as that of codeine.
Lawal, is, therefore, calling on the federal government to ban the use of pit latrines henceforth. He also suggests that people reduce the effect of decomposing human waste, by diluting it with sulphuric acid or quickly recycling it to biogas.
He said lizard dung should also be buried properly to neutralize its potency.
Photo Credit: Practical Action
