WAEC English Language 2022 Theory — Question 2

Model answer

THE MENACE OF FAKE DRUGS IN THE SOCIETY Good morning, I am Adepemisola Johnson. I attend The Overcomers College Ibadan. I want to speak on the topic: The Menace of Fake Drugs in the Society. Fake drugs are medications that are produced and sold in order to deceive the consumer about the source, originality and efficiency. Fake drugs can also be called substandard drugs. That is, they contain too much or too little of the ingredients they are made from. They may not have production date and expiry date. Fake drugs are so deadly and are widely believed to be responsible for several health mishaps. There are several negative effects of fake drugs on both the consumer and the economy of the country where it is sold. One of the effects of fake drugs on the people that consume them is poisoning. If a substandard drug is consumed, the dangerous ingredients it was made from may lead to more damage to the health of the consumer. Fake drugs poisoning may also cause purging and vomiting. Purging and vomiting can also lead to loss of appetite, fatigue, and loss of weight. A substandard drug may compromise the treatment of infectious diseases, leading to prolonged treatment. For instance, the treatment of malaria usually takes three days if unadulterated drugs are used. But if fake drugs are administered in the treatment of malaria, symptoms may take a negative dimension which may make the treatment longer than three days. These prolonged treatments may make the patient tired and weak. Fake drugs may also lead to treatment failure and organ damage. Some toxic ingredients are not meant for human consumption or are to be consumed at extremely low quantity. Several victims of fake drugs have been sentenced to complicated health issues such as kidney failure, heart failure, damage to the liver due to excessive toxic ingredients in them. The use of fake drugs may also lead to death. If a patient complains to the doctor and malaria is diagnosed, if fake drugs are administered without knowing, the symptoms may persist longer than it should and may lead to severity of the symptoms and complications which may lead to the death of the patient. A wide spread of fake drugs in a country may also have negative effects on the country's economy. This is so because the producer of such drugs may not go through the appropriate means to register and distribute the drugs and by so doing evade tax. Tax evasion from the drug producing company would lead to loss of revenue on the part of the government. Therefore, the government may not be able to provide adequate social amenities for its citizens. Therefore, the government must intensify its efforts to eradicate the production, distribution and use of fake drugs. The masses must be sensitized on the negative effects of fake drugs and how to recognize them and also report to the appropriate authority.