Yaounde: Walking through world of youths drowning in drug abuse.

The increasing use of hard drugs by young Cameroonians, for some, is not unconnected to a difficult economic climate that has detached parents from their kids. 

Some young people are so distant from their parents to the extent of ending up as street kids.

In addition to traditional drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and what have you, new drugs have expanded the list of substances derailing young people such a kior, tramadol, chai and others.

It is one of these substances that have stolen most young people from society to a world of their own.

Seated on a bench in the busy Mfoundi Market, 22-year-old Jean Paul, [not his real name] shares his story in nostalgia.  

With a faint voice probably lost to too much drug consumption, he disclosed getting into drugs just for the fun of catching up with the trend.

“My friends were doing it, and I wanted to be part of what everyone was into,” he told The Guardian Post, adding that oftentimes when he consumes drugs, he sees himself as being an invisible being.

Jean Paul said his journey into the world of drugs started at house parties with peers. He disclosed the practice as having gave him a new opening away from the monotony of daily life.

“The thrill was intoxicating,” he recalled but said, “it didn’t take long for the effect to fade, leaving behind a desperate need for more”. 

Jean Paul said as time went on, the euphoria of consuming drugs matured into an addiction.

He said it led to a cycle of despair that strained his relationships and changed his aspirations. From aspiring to enroll into a professinal higher institution of learning, Jean Paul lamented that drugs have turned him into a mere trader at the Mfoundi Market.

Even at that, he said he is still grateful to his family for becoming who he is today. He insisted that if not for his family, his situation would have been worst.

The repercussions of drug use extend far beyond the individual. At a local high school in Yaounde, 17-year-old Amina reflects on how her classmates have changed. 

“I used to see them as ambitious, full of dreams,” she said, adding that: “Now, many of them are drowning in drugs. Their grades in school that use to be the best are among the worst now”.

Amina’s observation paints a microcosm of a picture which many are now seeing now. For many young people who use to be full of dreams yesterday, today, drugs have taken a better part of them.

“It’s like we are all just trying to survive each day,” Amina added. One of her closest friend whom The Guardian Post identified as Cathy is said to be a school drup out today due to drug addiction.

For many families, the impact of drug use is devastating. Marie, a mother of three, recounts the painful transformation of her eldest son, 19-year-old Simon. 

“He was so bright, full of potential,” she recounted in tears adding that: “Now, he barely speaks to us. He spends all his time with the wrong crowd, and I fear for his life”. 

Marie’s struggle is similar to that of many families where relatives are battling to rebuild the drug-battered lives of many young people.

As the sun sets over Yaounde, casting long shadows on the streets, there is a growing realisation among the youth that change is necessary. 

In a local youth centre at the 20 May Boulevard, a group of young people gather to discuss their experiences and the need for support.

“We need to talk about this openly,” 20-year-old Cabrel, who is working to reverse the situation said, adding that: “We need to find healthier ways to cope”. 

Cabrel’s call for change resonates with many, sparking conversations about mental health, peer pressure, and the importance of community.  Our respondent who once lived in the ‘hell’ of drug addiction but survived, says there is an urgent need “to break the silence. We can’t let drugs define us”.

Despite its sweeping effects on young people, some youngsters like Cabral, are bent on reversing the trend.

By Julienne Ngo Honba (Journalism student on internship)

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3179 of Thursday July 25, 2024