Nigerians have taken to their Twitter handles to react to the ban and importation of codeine containing cough syrups in the country, especially as Dextromethorphan, which is less addictive has been made to replace the former.

Nigerians in their tweets urge the Federal Ministry of Health to do more in curbing drug abuse despite banning the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in Nigeria.

Most of them were of the opinion that drug abuse had gone beyond codeine consumption alone, noting that there are other forms of getting high in the country that also needs urgent attention.

See tweets below:

Pharmaceutical companies should be treated like drug dealers/pushers but it won’t happen.
Govt can regulate the dose or the strength of the opinate #codeine that can be in these cough syrup or gotten without prescription. https://t.co/wxODx4RpYT

— Wale Gates ???? (@walegates) May 1, 2018

Codeine is an opioid. A #codeine taken in excess – can cause organ failure, schizophrenia, and – when abused for long enough – even death. pic.twitter.com/Ea079anJTL

— Sir Jo Chubado Moh’d (@Mohammed_SirJo) May 1, 2018

If you are rushing to ban #codeine in Nigeria, I hope you have put in place measures to fight its distribution in the Black market.. Weed, SK, and so on are still widespread in the society

— Oluwatobi (@iam_cumming) May 1, 2018

#Codeine Ban won’t change anything imo…. they will get alternatives in the market, guarantee!

According to 9ce alapomeji: High na high, all join ( alternatives). #CodeineDiet

— Shoga Olowolekomo (@olowolekomoh) May 1, 2018

A ban on #codeine may be a good move but not the solution to our problem. A fix in the pharmaceutical industry is. Until we stop to sell medicines in markets and with or without prescriptions then we are not up for a change in this matter honestly. #EndArewaDrugAbuse

— Maryam Walida (@Mwaleedah) May 1, 2018

Until we define the main reasons behind #drugabuse and develop a road map to ending it banning #codeine won’t help

— CLEAR THE MYTH (@MRoseConsult) May 1, 2018

It’s like seeing your room filled with water, mopping the water up and thinking you’ve solved the problem. You haven’t, not until you find the leak and stop it. Banning #codeine is just like that, ask yourself, why do people resort to it? Why is it in demand? Kill the depression

— Patrick Ekuwem (@rickierhymes) May 1, 2018

Since #Codeine has made it to the top item on naija twitter today, can we also remember it’s evil twin, #Tramadol.

— Sylva Nze Ifedigbo (@nzesylva) May 1, 2018

Banning Emzor #codeine is not the answer to the drug abuse trend. We are talking about People who are trying everything, (from sniffing petrol to pit toilet) just to get high. How long will it take them to find another drug to abuse?

— Samuel Nwite (@sunansammy) May 1, 2018

When they no longer see #codeine to buy, I hope they won’t turn to a deadlier substance.

— Et Tu Fejiro (@FejiroEsq) May 1, 2018

Ban #codeine and #Tramadol booms
Ban #Tramadol and #methylatedSpirit booms
Ban #methylatedSpirit and we still have to deal with
Evostic
Pit toilet sniffing
Paracetamol sniffing
Alabukun sniffing

— CLEAR THE MYTH (@MRoseConsult) May 1, 2018

If you are rushing to ban #codeine in Nigeria, I hope you have put in place measures to fight its distribution in the Black market.

— Ohimai Godwin Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) May 1, 2018