Sweet, Sweet Codeine

Sweet, Sweet Codeine

2018, Drugs  -   3 Comments
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Ratings: 7.88/10 from 40 users.

Nigeria is currently engaged in a crisis of addiction. The source of their woes might come as a surprise to many. Codeine fueled cough syrup is the street drug of choice, and its popularity has resulted in high rates of crime, a staggering number of user deaths, and seemingly insurmountable challenges for the country's law enforcement. Produced by BBC News Africa, Sweet, Sweet Codeine chronicles the effects of this ravaging epidemic and the desperate attempts to combat them.

Cough syrup is highly addictive and easily attainable. Over 3 million bottles are consumed and abused on a daily basis in just two of the country's states. Long-term users suffer from schizophrenia, organ failure and eventual death. In Nigeria, the situation has become so dire that the government has mounted a full scale War on Syrup, and has commissioned drug enforcement agents from other regions to assist them in their efforts.

Cough syrup might be legal in Nigeria, but it cannot be procured without a doctor's prescription. In order to determine how large amounts of the syrup are making their way to the streets, the filmmakers embark on a potentially dangerous undercover investigation. They trace the origins of distribution to a large pharmaceutical company. From there, the syrup is sold to dealers and pharmacists, and is soon distributed on the black market. Children and young students are a prime target for these dealers.

Not all pharmacists are willing to play with their customer's lives. Those who follow the letter of the law must secure their places of business like fortresses in order to repel a growing population of impulsive addicts.

Mass quantities of cough syrup are seized and destroyed by the government on an ongoing basis. But it's not enough. The syrup continues to flow in the streets like water, and officers are frequently the victims of unspeakable brutality at the hands of drug gangs.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of young addicts are flooding into local detention centers. Their withdrawal symptoms are horrific, but for the time being, they're lucky to be alive.

Sweet, Sweet Codeine is an unflinching look at the perils of a drug epidemic.

Directed by: Charlie Northcott

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Dustin
Dustin
5 years ago

I suffered from opioid addiction from high school til the age of 32 and began with pills that I took normal then snorting stronger pills which finally resulted in the needle! I hated needles before I was introduced to heroin and the last 4 years of my addiction were in and out of rehab then to hell on earth! So to the piece of sh*t sales representative who spread the lies about OCs all over the tv back in the late 90s and early 2000s saying opioids could be used without addiction!!!

Daniel zacha
Daniel zacha
5 years ago

Ive been on opiates for chronic pain for four years ,it is the only way for me to function and be a active person , im older ,I dont party with the stuff and exercise daily to keep the pain at bay along with the opiates , id be alot less active if I didn't have this medication.

Soulmedium
Soulmedium
5 years ago

This- like any doc on drug addiction- is difficult to watch and not feel compassion for the users hooked on this poison. The only way to eradicate addiction is to heal/change the root causes- the gaping hole in the soul of users and the immense, insane profits those who sell the stuff make.