Guzoro - Tramadol epidemic
It had taken almost forever for me to understand what “Guzoro” meant. I had seen a cousin of mine stand up all night, facing a blank wall, all in a world of his own, chatting up an imaginary friend, in some solemn banter that seemed harmless. His face was however stoned, chiseled at edges, subtle anger written all over his face, expressionless to the max with streaks of laughter that gave him away as human.
I had looked the other way. I had written him off as one that had joined those “goof-goof ” boys and was probably “jonesing”. I was told he took “Guzoro”
The name “Guzoro” in my language means “to stand” or “standing”. I had witnessed first hand, the all-night standing by my cousin. I had gone to bed seeing him out there and had woken up in the morning, with him still at the same spot. The name perfectly meant sense to me.
I was wrong.
In my little kindred in Oboroche Ubaha Orodo, Guzoro seems to have taken over. Guzoro seems to be the catalyst to all other vices as exhibited by all the youths in the village. Guzoro was the root of all evil. This drug had thrown the whole dynamics of my village into turmoil. There was a total breakdown of law and order, a failure in observing age-long norms that had guided the village, from generation to generation.
What I had seen in my cousin was a recurring incident amongst the budding youths in the village. This was normal for them. They would kill and maim to stand all night. In our own time, we stayed late at night to watch the moon dim, to take a bit of breeze, just camaraderie with folks.
My youths stood all night for different reasons.
I still did not get it.
The youths in my village were now brazen with insubordination, they were bloodshot with anger at constituted authority, they feared nobody and no one. I remember back in the days when the youth assembly would fish out an erring member who had gone against the slightest norm in the village and mete out punishments and reprimands suitable for crime. Every youth in the village succumbed to the paramount powers of the leadership and collective will.
Now, my village succumbed to the unruly youths.
My youths were now laden with the powers of this new drug, unseen hands that blinded them of incest. They hardly knew their relations anymore. Guzoro gave them wings to commit all atrocities foreign to us. Guzoro gave them false wants and needs. Guzoro grew their urge for loin greatness, grew their appetite for sex and more sex. There was a sudden reliance on sexual prowess in the village, a continuous urge to satisfy a drug-laden body with whoever was available: even relatives.
I still did not get it.
The youths in my village craved for data, they all craved to recharge their phones, they would kill and maim for this subscription that kept the “Oyibo-link” alive. Data mining was now the only source of livelihood in the village. The time difference meant that they had to be awake regardless to be able to chat with these phantom ladies. They had to be awake and sharp. Yahoo-yahoo and Guzoro were now the tools of the trade in my community.
Back in the days, the youths would have been under different apprenticeships, praying and hoping to be free to start their own trade. It was not so anymore. My youths were no more humble enough to be under anyone. My youths have eaten the forbidden apple. They were Guzoro-wise.
I still did not get the connection until I had spoken to my cousin, Fortunatus, a psychiatrist who hinted that the so-called drug ravaging the east and a majority of other towns were laced with Tramadol.
Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever. If used in higher doses might produce heroin-like effects “whenever we took tramadol, nothing mattered to us anymore except what we were sent to do because it made us very high and very bold, it was impossible to go on a mission without taking it”. said a user.
It had also the effect of delaying ejaculation and since everything revolved around sex and money for my youths, it made perfect sense that they killed for this drug.
Guzoro as the name implied stood for sustained erectile stiffness. The youthful strengths in the villages in the east were now measured by who lasted longer, who shifted more “wombs”. Rape had become a common accomplice, it had become common aftermath, as they must plug and play after ingestion.
In my little community, education was no more an issue, apprenticeship had been discarded, the culture and traditions that held the fabric of my kindred had now been torn to shreds, youth assemblies were no more, generational transfers obliterated, heavy curses were now hanging loose over our heads.
Guzoro- a tramadol epidemic now resting in my village and others alike.
This drug should be treated as a major factor if we want to salvage what we have left of these villages. We would be totally overrun in the nearest future if indices to checkmate this spread are not put in place. The time would come when the privileged won’t make a few meters into the villages.
These kids are addicted to Guzoro. They are subtly addicted to sex and vices that fuel these lifestyles.
Rehabilitation is needed. A re-engineering of the society is needed ho ha.
How do we go about this epidemic? This is a social ill. It will engulf us soon if we do not consider it an issue. A plan that is devoid of an addiction detox will not work.
The mental health of most communities is at stake.
Action, action, collective action is needed now
It Matters Period.
Uchenna Iwualla, MD