Ivory Coast : Ban On Import Of Energy Drinks. What Should Be Understood ?
Faced with the trend of the notorious drug “Kadhafi,” the Ivorian government has implemented a number of measures to combat this scourge.
The drug « Kadhafi » is a preparation obtained from counterfeit medicines diverted from the official circuit and mixed with water or alcohol. For its preparation, consumers often use Tramadol with a dosage of 250 mg.
In its fight against the consumption of this drug, which is wreaking havoc among the youth, the government continues to take various initiatives, from awareness campaigns to seizing all elements used in its composition. Going further, the authorities have, in a statement, banned the import and sale of energy drinks in the Ivorian territory.
While this decision is applauded by youth associations, it is far from being the best for a significant part of the population.
In this context, it should be noted that the most active ingredient remains Tramadol and several other drugs, which, even when mixed with water, remain harmful to health. If that is the case, it would be wiser to prohibit the importation of these substances and even penalize offenders.
However, it is evident that in the government’s statement, no measures are taken against Tramadol. One can sense a certain bias from the government against energy drinks. What could have motivated the decision to ban the importation of energy drinks ?
According to information, this situation is the result of unfair competition waged by certain beverage firms that have seen a drop in their turnover due to the high consumption of energy drinks. These firms have used various communication channels for a disinformation campaign against energy drinks.
Several media outlets involved in this plot have consistently cited energy drinks as the main components of the « Kadhafi » drug, solely to tarnish their image. The argument that energy drinks are the main elements of the « Kadhafi » drug is, in reality, a manipulation. According to insiders, these competing firms carefully devised this plan to eliminate energy drinks from the market to maintain their monopoly.
Whatever is said, any beverage, whether alcoholic or not, should be consumed in moderation.
For the government, the fight against drugs is far from won, as young people can still obtain Tramadol against which no measures are taken. It is therefore important not to target the wrong issue.
