West Africa’s race with emerging drugs

The emergence of new medicines in West Africa presents urgent challenges for local authorities and communities. Recent seizures and tragic consequences highlight the urgency of a rapid, coordinated response.

Below is an overview of the current situation and suggestions for addressing this growing threat.

Alarming increase in drug seizures

Every year, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking reminds people of the importance of: Fighting drugsIn West Africa, this fight has reached critical proportions in recent years. According to a report by UNODC, cocaine seizures in the Sahel countries have skyrocketed, from 13 kg per year between 2015 and 2020 to 1,466 kg in 2022. This alarming growth points to the growing importance of West Africa as a transit zone for drugs from Latin America and Asia.

Drug Road: A Dangerous Journey

Drugs cross the Sahara, often beyond the control of states. Before arriving in Europe. Cannabis, heroin and new synthetic products, such as those from India and China, are transshipped through ports in the Gulf of Guinea before making their way north. The discovery of a crack production lab in Niger reveals an aggressive strategy by traffickers to create local markets in Africa.

Also read: Senegal: Record seizure of one ton of cocaine by land

Local consumption: a worrying reality

Left-handedDrug seizures increase This is followed by a worrying increase in local consumption. For example, Tramadol accounts for 95% of global seizures in West Africa. This opioid is used as a stimulant by workers who need endurance, such as motorcycle taxi drivers in Togo and Cameroon. New products, such as “Touch” (MDMA) in Senegal and “Khadafi” (a mixture of alcoholic energy drinks and Tramaking) in Côte d’Ivoire are becoming increasingly popular among young people.

Damaging effects on health

Amphetamines and other psychostimulants are used to enhance performance and social integration, but they can also cause Severe addiction and psychological disorders. Treatment centers like the Integrated Addiction Care Center in Dakar are working to adapt to these new realities.

Faced with this crisis, experts in the fields of social sciences, addiction and health presented recommendations at the “Social Sciences and Drugs in Francophone Africa” ​​conference in Dakar. They called for the implementation of pharmacological and toxicological analysis to quickly identify products in circulation and their adverse effects. In addition, antagonistic treatment for drug overdoses should be provided. A-list actors It is crucial.