Drug Abuse and its Implication on Regional Security in West and Central Africa: Cases Studies of Nigeria and Cameroon

Öz

Though previous literature establishes that abuse of drugs may amount to numerous health risks, they, however, fail to present the extent to which such cases could constitute a threat to national and regional security. Therefore, this research sheds light on the extent to which drug abuse constitutes an existential threat to national security by focusing on the use of Tramadol extending from terrorist organizations to youth in Nigeria and Cameroon. In general, Tramadol is considered an analgesic pill that treats severe and moderate pain. But the outcome of the analysis in this research reveals the extent to which tramadol is prevalent among the terrorist and organized crime groups in Nigeria, and it is the driver of youth violence and heightened crime rates in Cameroonian cities of Douala and Yaounde.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Drug Abuse
• National Security
• Organized Crime
• Tramadol

Drug Abuse and its Implication on Regional Security in West and Central Africa: Cases Studies of Nigeria and Cameroon

Öz

Önceki literatür, uyuşturucu kullanımının çok sayıda sağlık riski oluşturabileceğini ortaya koysa da, bu tür vakaların ulusal ve bölgesel güvenliğe ne ölçüde tehdit oluşturabileceğini gösterememektedir. Dolayısıyla bu araştırma, Nijerya ve Kamerun'da terör örgütlerinden gençlere uzanan Tramadol kullanımına odaklanarak, uyuşturucu kullanımının ulusal güvenliğe ne ölçüde varoluşsal bir tehdit oluşturduğuna ışık tutmaktadır. Genel olarak, Tramadol, şiddetli ve orta derecede ağrıyı tedavi eden bir analjezik hap olarak kabul edilir. Ancak bu araştırmadaki analizin sonucu, tramadolün Nijerya'daki terörist ve organize suç grupları arasında ne kadar yaygın olduğunu ve Kamerun'un Douala ve Yaounde şehirlerindeki gençlik şiddetinin ve artan suç oranlarının itici gücü olduğunu ortaya koyuyor.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Organize Suç
• Uyuşturucu Kullanımı
• Tramadol
• Ulusal Güvenlik

Kaynakça

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