SIZA Foundation Reacts To MkpuruMmiri Addiction In SouthEast And Urges NDLEA To Act

As the issue of drug addiction continues to pose a challenge among the youth population, the Founder/President SIZA Foundation, a non-governmental organisation dedication for anti-drug advocacy, Ms Emmanuella Adaeze Ezissi has described the menace of 'Mkpuru mmiri' in the South-East as a scourge, calling on relevant authorities to arrest the menace.

Describing it further as a social disaster, Ms Ezissi stressed that the permeating culture of substance abuse has increased the level of social vices among the youthful population.

Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, popularly known as ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’ in Igbo land or crystal meth, comes in clear crystal chunks or shiny blue-white rocks. Also called Ice or glass on the streets.

The advocate in a press parley on Monday said even though no social group or status is totally immuned from the menace noted that it is commonly seen among unemployed youths.

This she said is not unconnected with efforts to induce euphoria as a means of temporarily escaping life challenges staring at them.

She therefore called on the relevant government agencies, especially the reinvigorated National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA under the leadership of Buba Marwa to spread its investigative network around the South East region, particularly Anambra said identified as hotbed of the 'Mkpuru mmiri' menace.

"First NDLEA must scatter their investigative unit across the 326 wards in the state (Anambra) to discover those who responsibile for distributing this hallucinating agent to our youths" she advised.

She further advocated that identified drug victims should be sent to rehabilitation centres before being reintegrated into the larger society.

According to Ms Ezissi, there is need to raise the tempo of awareness campaign especially at the grass root level to orientate the youths of the health and social implications of consuming the psychoactive substance

She further called for a stiffer legislative framework that will disincentivise the use of drugs as a robust measure to curb crime and criminality in the society. During the official unveiling of SIZA Foundation recently in Abuja, Ms Ezissi also launched her book titled, "Combating Drug Abuse Among the Youth, Its Impact On National Security, Crime Reduction and Peace Election"