It is with a heavy heart of melancholy, penning down this article. The world awoke to the news of the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown, who tragically died on the 26th of this month, roughly three years after her late mother, the great songstress, Whitney Houston passed away. Upon hearing news that Bobbi Kristina had lost the fight I prayed so hard for her to win, sleep eluded me, words failed me, emotions flooded me and sadness overcame me.
The death of Whitney and Bobby Brown’s daughter, who died at the young age of 22, made headlines when it was reported that she sadly passed away in a hospice care facility in the U.S. where she has been since June 24 … when her family decided to take her off all medications. Bobbi Kristina was found submerged in her bathtub on January 31, and police believe she was underwater for anywhere between 2 and 5 minutes. Paramedics were able to resuscitate her, but she was in a medically induced coma and placed on life support. The family says Bobbi Kristina was surrounded by family and, “She is finally at peace in the arms of God.”
Throughout her teenage and adult years, Bobbi Kristina Brown had been the focus of reports about her purported drug usage. It was even speculated that she was under the influence of drugs the morning she was found unresponsive in her bathtub. Multiple sources who knew her have confirmed that she regularly used heroin, cocaine and Xanax, especially in recent months. In addition, she was also said to be a heavy drinker. In a particular report, it was said that she often appeared to be high in some instances, slurring her words and seeming incoherent. Her death was déjà vu all over again when her mother also died in a bathtub in 2012, from what was later ruled an accidental drowning with cocaine use listed as contributing factors. Indeed, what happened to Bobbi Kristina is a textbook exemplification of the impact a parent’s death, linked to drug addiction can have on their children. Growing up in a household or an environment where illicit or hard drugs are frequently used exposes a child in picking up the insidious habit. One can only imagine the demons she must have grappled with in an attempt to avoid using drugs like her parents. Arguably, she stood little chance once surrounded by drugs and it was inevitable that she was also going to pick-up the habit from her parents.
Coming closer home, over the last decade, the consumption of hard drugs has drastically increased in Nigeria. The sorry case of popular reggae singer and guitarist, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek, who is currently a wreck as a result of drug addiction speaks volumes. Due to his addiction, Majek Fashek, was seen roaming the streets of Lagos aimlessly and had resorted to begging to satisfy his urges. This is indeed a very sad story for such an accomplished musician and icon in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. It’s disheartening to know such a talented person is seen on the streets of Lagos looking for petty change to buy food, drinks and drugs. Recent sightings and pictures of him show a sickly, frail and haggard looking Majek. How can a national hero be left on the street like that? We must do something to save and take care of him. I wish to use this avenue to implore on well-meaning Nigerians and also the government to help one of our illustrious musical icons to get into a reputable rehabilitation centre in an effort to help him kick the habit.
Substances such as alcohol, cannabis, heroin, cocaine among others are now being taken frequently and in large quantities by youths in our society. Sadly, among these youths, teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 constitute the high risk groups. Other drugs taken by our youths which also constitute drug abuse are legal substances such as prescription drugs like valium, chloroquin, cough syrup, etc, when used in excess or without medical prescription. Given the enormous damage narcotics do to humanity, no effort should be spared in curbing this menace. A drug can be said to be any substance used in medicine. It can also be said to be any substance taken by some people to get certain effect, such as happiness and excitement. Driving from these definitions above, drugs can be classified into two categories; 1] the soft Drug e.g. antibiotics and analgesics. And 2] the hard drugs e.g. cocaine, marijuana heroin e.t.c. Consequently, a drug addict is said to be someone whose life has become dependent on drugs, hence drug abuse.
There are two primary causes of drug abuse among youths. These are peer pressure and Depression. Through the former, youths associates with different types of people otherwise known as friends. Through the pressure from these friends, they can be lured into having a taste of these drugs. And once this is done, they continue to take it and become addicted to it at the long run. The latter can lead to drug abuse when certain things happen to someone that is considered very sad and disheartening; the person starts thinking of the best way to become happy once more hence the use of hard drugs will come in. This later on turns to a habit, hence drug abuse. Other major causes of drug abuse are as a result to the high rate of unemployment among youths, economic depression, social deprivation, anxiety, frustration and parental/family influence. The effects of drug abuse amongst youths can be viewed from firstly, the social aspect. The hard drugs make the taker hyperactive at the point of taking this drug. This make the taker to behave abnormally, contribute to immoralities such as armed robbery, rape, sexually transmitted diseases and many other societal vices. Second is the financial effect. An addict tends to spend more money on the purchase of these drugs. This can make the addict to become bankrupt or start searching for money by all means. Third is the health effect. The addict becomes unstable and starts behaving abnormally.
Addiction to drugs/substances can be emotional, psychological, biochemical dependent or a combination of the three. Users who are psychologically dependent feel that they need drugs in order to feel good about themselves, whereas those who are emotionally dependent need increasingly larger doses of drugs in order to achieve the initial effects and will suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Cannabis and Indian hemp are the most frequently abused and used drugs in Nigeria, followed by amphetamines and to a lesser extent heroin and cocaine. Organic solvents are also becoming increasingly popular especially among street people.
With the high percentage of youths in Nigeria addicted to drugs, drug abuse can totally be overcome and eradicated in Nigeria through government intervention projects and incorporating a nationwide program to help addicts. Also, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), saddled with the fight against illicit and hard drugs in our county can still raise the cadence of its effectiveness by investing heavily on technological devices that can enhance its ability to detect drug traffickers or consumers to effectively thwart their efforts. The agency and relevant stakeholders should also embark on sustained public enlightenment campaigns against consumption of illicit drugs using bill boards, radio/TV jingles, fliers, banners, pamphlets etc. The suggested plan to introduce the campaign against the use of hard drugs into primary and secondary school curriculum should also be encouraged and fast-tracked. Government via the NDLEA should also embark on an aggressive extinction of all the sources of these hard drugs including the farms where they are planted. Parents should monitor the kind of friends their children keep and guide against bad company. Lastly, stiff penalties should be meted against anybody found dealing on hard drugs.
Drugs or substance addiction can affect any family or person, regardless of creed, age, status, gender, education, or ethnicity. Once a person becomes an addict, they never have full control of their actions; the drugs take over. They are hooked for life; hence, love, care, understanding, and kindness must be adopted in dealing addicts.
I am completely devastated at the passing of Bobbi Kristina. I gave birth to my daughter not long after Whitney Houston gave birth to Bobbi Kristina, so I have always viewed her through the eyes of a mother. I have loved her from so far as any mother would. When I saw the turmoil and the dark cloud that surrounded her throughout her life, I prayed for her to find a way to overcome it. When I witnessed the grim seduction of drugs overcome her, I hoped she would somehow come through it. But it was evident from the very start of her life, that Bobbi Kristina stood a very little chance at life. The slim element of life and happiness that beautiful child had, seemed to evaporate the minute her mother, Whitney Houston died. After her mother died, I wrote an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston and sent it to her. Bobbi Kristina responded to me directly.
Since I learnt that she had fallen into a coma, I sent her several messages and prayers every couple of days, willing her to pull through. I prayed so hard that she would somehow make it, wake up, maybe see some of my prayers and respond to them in the way she did after her mother died. But it wasn’t to be.
‘The death of Bobbi Kristina has rendered me numb; the tragedy that claimed her, she could not overcome; now almost like Whitney she did succumb.’
Her death devastates me because although she was Whitney Houston’s daughter, she could have easily been mine.
I send my heartfelt condolence to the Brown and Houston families and to all those who loved Bobbi Kristina, even though she struggled in a drug-fest. Now that we know that she did die, this is our time to say Goodbye.
Bobbi Kristina has gone too soon…
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