Community elders and religious leaders in Guriel are raising awareness about the hazards of drug abuse. (Photo by Abdirisak Hajirow/Ergo)
(ERGO) – In Somalia’s Galgadud region, rural pastoralists face a worrying surge in Tramadol misuse, prompting concern among community leaders.
The concerning rise in drug abuse, impacting crime and societal stability, is particularly alarming even among traditional communities, say authorities.
Radio Ergo caught up with Abdinasir Ali Abdulle from Guriel, who’s seen his world unravel due to addiction.
Abdinasir recalled how his occasional use of Tramadol in 2020 spiraled into dependency, crippling his ability to care for his livestock and reckon with his actions.
“Initially, I popped one or two pills daily, but it snowballed into needing 20. The addiction gnawed away at my strength and control,” he shared.
Over the next three years, his family life took a nosedive. His wife implored him to quit, troubled by his broken promises and frequent absences.
To fund his habit, Abdinasir sold a whopping 65 goats, plunging his family deeper into despair.
In a harrowing incident in June 2023, he overdosed on Tramadol, leaving him gravely injured.
“I collapsed in the street after going on a bender. I hadn’t eaten in days, and ended up hitting my head hard,” he recounted.
His severe injury required a hospital stay and weeks of recovery, during which his family intervened firmly for change.
Abdinasir narrowly avoided disaster, with just 15 goats left at the Labi-boor village, 30 kilometers from Guriel.
His addiction drained his funds on frivolous pastimes, staying in hotels, and partying with friends.
Now advocating for awareness, Abdinasir highlights how drugs dulled his sense of duty and focus on work. Although he never turned to crime, he admits that others in his shoes might.
Tramadol is readily accessible across Somalia, sold without prescriptions, with 100 pills fetching just three bucks.
Community elder Jama Ali Mahmoud, involved in resolving drug-related disputes, recognizes the challenge drugs pose.
Jama, from El-Korah, 55 kilometers south of Guriel, recounted a nightmarish event involving a drugged group attacking a newlywed couple.
“Five men high on drugs stormed into a bride’s home at night, attacked her husband, and kidnapped her,” he related.
The situation was eventually resolved through the arrest of the culprits.
Jama is deeply worried about his own teenagers, aged 14 and 16, and their exposure to the local drug culture.
“To shield my sons from the drug menace, I’m plotting their enrollment in a Koranic camp, a safe haven from harmful lures,” he explained.
Jama underscored the necessity for joint efforts from authorities and locals to curb drug use, especially among idle herders.
“With so much downtime, pastoralists are easily tempted. We must tackle this together,” he urged.
Since mid-2023, campaigns raising awareness about drug dangers have surged, led by community members in Guriel.
One leader, Abdullahi Malin Hassan, detailed a personal brush with drug-fueled violence, ambushed by armed attackers on his way home.
Assailants believed to be high on Tramadol attacked him, leaving Abdullahi severely injured, requiring treatment in Mogadishu.
Thus inspired, he pledged to fight drug abuse, now seen as a major societal threat.
Abdullahi’s team conducts weekly workshops with local leaders and professionals, noting progress in their fight.
“Some former users heeded our call, quit drugs, and now help us,” he noted.
Local police in Guriel report arresting 45 users involved in crimes like theft and assault, over six months.
At Shifa Hospital, Dr. Kahiye Osman Omar has treated 80 Tramadol-related cases since May, explaining its severe mental and physical toll.
“It first erodes mental wellness, disconnecting individuals from reality. It ravages organs like kidneys, liver, and intestines, causing dire health issues,” he explained.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
