Withdrawal symptoms can be worse in the few Long term effects of heroin (contd) first days and sometimes can take up to 10 weeks • Constipation to fully recover. • Damaged heart, lungs, liver and brain • Vein damage and skin, heart and lung infections RESPONSE TO DRUGS AND RELATED ORGANISED CRIME IN from injecting (i.e., HIV and Hepatitis C) This project is funded by the European Union HEROIN • Needing to use more to get the same effect (develop tolerance) Heroin is a drug that comes from the opium • Dependency poppy. It is a depressant drug and slows down the SOME TYPES messages travelling between the brain and body. Withdrawal symptoms usually start within 6 to OF DRUGS USED Heroin is usually injected into a vein but can be 24 hours after the last heroin dose and can last for smoked and added to cigarettes with or about a week (commonly days 1 to 3 will be the Part 1 sometimes it can be snorted. The effects are usually worst). Some withdrawal symptoms can include: IN NIGERIA felt straight away and last 3 – 5 hours. Not all people cravings for heroin, restlessness and irritability, who try heroin become dependent. Dependence depression, diarrhea, yawning and restless sleep, happens gradually with ongoing use. stomach and leg cramps, vomiting and no appetite, and a runny nose. The effects of taking heroin with Common names for heroin in Nigeria other drugs can be unpredictable and dangerous, Gabji, Market, Brown, Brown Sugar, Horse, and could cause a fatal (deadly) drug overdose. Skunk, Smack. BACKGROUND Short term effects In 2014 there was an estimated 246 million (range • High level of pleasure and pain relief 162 – 324 million) people in the world that have used • Relaxation, drowsiness and clumsiness an illegal drug in the past 12 months. The drugs • Confusion used include cannabis, opiates (such as heroin), • Slurred and slow speech cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants. Globally • Dry mouth the most common illegal drug used is cannabis. In • Tiny pupils (circular opening in the centre of Nigeria drug use problems are found throughout the iris of the eye) the country but there are no official estimates of • Breathing become shallow the number of drug users in the country. However, THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE • Reduced appetite and vomiting OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE CONTENTS OF THIS PUBLICATION the numbers are considered large enough to be of • Decreased sex drive WERE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNODC AND NIGERIAN concern. The most common illegal drug used in STAKEHOLDERS FROM GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS Nigeria is cannabis. Other illegal drugs used include WORKING ON DRUG ISSUES AND CAN IN NO WAY BE TAKEN TO cocaine, heroin, amphetamine-type stimulants and Long term effects REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. inhalants and solvents such as glue. There are a • Sadness lot of misunderstandings about the type of drugs • Irregular periods and difficulty having people use and of their side effects. This brochure children (females) outlines brief and accurate information of some • No sex drive (males) major drugs used in Nigeria.

Fact sheet 01 a [Some types of drugs used in Nigeria].indd 1 29/05/17 3:57 PM ◆ SOME TYPES OF DRUGS USED IN NIGERIA: PART 1

CANNABIS • Decreased nausea (feeling of sickness in stomach) Short term effects and increased appetite (hungry for food) • Happiness and confidence Cannabis is derived from the plant Cannabis • Talking more sativa. Cannabis is a depressant drug which Long term effects • Feeling energetic and alert means producing an effect that will slow down • Problems with memory and learning • Feeling physically strong and mentally sharp the activity of the central nervous system and the • Decreased motivation and concentration • Reduced appetite messages going between the brain and the body. • Increased risk of respiratory diseases • Dry mouth In large doses it may also produce hallucinogenic • Paranoia (feeling undue suspicion of others) • Enlarged (dilated) pupils effects, meaning you may see things which are • Psychosis (seeing or hearing things that do not • Faster heartbeat and breathing not really there. The key ingredient responsible exist or are distorted) • Higher body temperature for the ‘high’ produced by cannabis is called • Increased sex drive delta-9- (THC). Cannabis Regular and heavy cannabis use during adolescence • Unpredictable, violent or aggressive behavior is typically smoked, often mixed with tobacco is associated with more severe negative outcomes • Delusions (over-inflated sense of worth, power, and sometimes added to food and eaten. When than use during adulthood. knowledge, or identity) cannabis is smoked, the effects are often quick as THC is rapidly absorbed into the lungs entering the For more detailed information see the brochure bloodstream within minutes. Some people who 'GET THE FACTS ABOUT CANNABIS' Long term effects use cannabis are dependent. • Insomnia (cannot sleep) and exhaustion • Nasal (nose), sinus problems, nose bleeds Common names for cannabis in Nigeria COCAINE • Anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, depression Igbo, Weewee, Weed, Marijuana, Mary and Joan, • Eating disorders and weight loss Choko, Yoyo, , Skunk, Green Leaf, Ghanja, Cocaine is a drug made from the leaves of the coca • Sexual dysfunction (not performing normally) Grass, Indian (a term sometimes used on plant which is found in South America. This plant is • Heart damage the streets), Blaze, Taba, Ndedeko, Bendel Market, processed in different ways to make different types • Lung problems , Pot and Genye. of cocaine. Cocaine is a stimulant drug which means • Kidney failure it speeds up the brain and nervous system. The • Increased risk of strokes (loss of body function Short term effects effects of taking cocaine can last from a few minutes on one side) and seizures (body convulsions or • Loss of inhibition (can feel unusually well, to a few hours but mostly less than one hour. loss of consciousness) Cocaine is most commonly snorted into the nose, happy, talkative) Anxiety : worry, nervous, tense but can be injected, rubbed into the gums, added • Quiet and reflective mood, drowsy (tired) Paranoia : feeling extremely suspicious of others to drinks or food. In Nigeria it is sometimes smoked • Intense or altered senses to sound, colour and Psychosis : seeing or hearing things that do not exist with cannabis. Some people who use cocaine other sensations or are distorted • Altered memory and thinking, confusion are dependent. • Anxiety (worry, nervous, tense) and mild Common names for cocaine in Nigeria Those that are dependent to cocaine may find it very paranoia (feeling undue suspicion of others) hard to stop using or cut down because of withdrawal Coke, Powder, Thailand White, Brown/Black, • Altered vision and bloodshot eyes symptoms which include some of the following: Off White, Rock, Snow, Blow, Chunk, Stone • Dryness of the eyes, mouth and throat craving cocaine badly, feeling angry or upset, feeling and Charlie. • Reduced coordination and balance sick, vomiting, shaking and tiredness.

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