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A Las Vegas woman has been arrested for shooting de@d her boyfriend as she modeled for him with a weapon during an impromptu photoshoot. Her arrest came after cops discovered her disturbing fascination with firearms. Officers responded to a 911 call that a male had been shot at a home about 3 miles south of the North Las Vegas Airport, a little before 5 a.m., on Aug. 23, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.   Authorities discovered Mark Gaughan sprawled on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his neck. He was pronounced de@d at the scene despite desperate life-saving efforts by first responders.  Gaughan, 23, had been taking photos of his girlfriend, Allysandra Blea, when he was k!lled, police said. Police said that during the early morning photoshoot, Blea, 20, was posing with a firearm before the weapon discharged and fatally struck her boyfriend. Investigators and the Clark County District Attorneys Office charged the 20-year-old with Open Murder with a Deadly Weapon on Aug. 26. She was arrested without incident that day and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.  A Polaroid photo of Blea posing with a gun and another of a girl brandishing a knife were recovered at the scene, according to the arrest report obtained by Fox 5 Vegas. The person who called in the fatal shooting the boyfriend of the knife-brandishing model said the two girls decided on doing a photoshoot at around 4:30 a.m. The 911 caller told police that he made sure that the firearm was unloaded and the magazine was removed before handing the gun over to Blea to use for the photoshoot, the outlet reported. After snapping a few pictures, the 911 callers girlfriend told police she went inside to change her outfit. She claimed upon returning outside that the magazine was loaded back into the gun. The model told police the shooting was an accident insisting she believed the gun had no rounds and had never taken a firearm safety course before handling the gun, according to the arrest report. However, investigators found that Blea allegedly had a disturbing fascination with firearms after obtaining a search warrant and combing through her social media accounts and messages. Investigators found numerous messages referencing her enthusiasm for firearms and building an arsenal, accompanied by images of her posing with different weapons, the outlet reported. Police found one message in which Blea allegedly said, I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it, and spoke about gunning down prostitutes and the homeless, Fox 5 Vegas reported. In another conversation, the alleged k!ller had with Gaughan, he told her they could use dummies for targets. Blea chillingly responded, We gotta shoot someone real. Going to be the tunnels. If its only one a night the police will remain clueless, according to the arrest report. In review of her social media account, Allysandra appeared to have knowledge and experience of firearms and more importantly, shooting firearms, police wrote. The gun-totting model made her initial court appearance at the Las Vegas Township Justice Court on Tuesday, September 2, where Judge Nancy Bernstein formally charged her with murder, KSNV reported. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.The post Woman with fascination for firearms shoots boyfriend de@d while she modeled for him during photoshoot appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

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From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5 The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Article .From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5: The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Report on the Shifting Landscape of Substance Abuse in Nigeria Nigeria faces a severe and evolving drug crisis, particularly among its youth. What began with the widespread abuse of Tramadol has progressed through mixtures like “Canadian” to newer pharmaceutical diversions such as Exol-5. This shift reflects deeper issues: easy access to prescription drugs, weak regulation, socioeconomic pressures, and aggressive street-level marketing. NDLEA operations and health studies reveal a public health emergency that threatens an entire generation. Phase 1: The Tramadol Epidemic (2010s–Early 2020s) Tramadol, a synthetic opioid prescribed for moderate to severe pain, became Nigeria’s most notorious street drug. Cheap, potent, and widely smuggled (often from India and other Asian countries), it offered users energy, euphoria, and pain relief — appealing to commercial drivers, laborers, students, and young men seeking confidence or stamina. Scale of the Problem: Millions of tablets seized annually by NDLEA. High prevalence among young males aged 15–35. Linked to increased crime, sexual violence, organ damage (kidney failure, seizures), and mental health breakdowns. Contributed to broader opioid misuse alongside codeine cough syrups. Government responses included tighter import controls and public awareness campaigns, but these only displaced demand to other substances rather than eliminating it. Phase 2: The Rise of “Canadian” (Mid-2020s) “Canadian” or “Canadian Loud” emerged as a popular code for high-grade cannabis (often indica-dominant strains) or cannabis mixed with other synthetics. It gained traction as users sought alternatives or combinations to Tramadol’s effects. This phase marked a move toward imported or locally cultivated premium weed, sometimes laced with stronger chemicals. Youths in urban centers like Lagos, Kano, Jos, and Onitsha embraced it for its perceived “cleaner” high compared to opioids. However, it fueled polydrug use — combining cannabis with opioids, sedatives, or alcohol — amplifying health risks. Phase 3: Exol-5 – The Current Threat (2024–2026) Exol-5 (Benzhexol Hydrochloride / Trihexyphenidyl 5mg), originally a prescription medication for Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced movement disorders, has become the latest pharmaceutical being heavily abused. Why Exol-5? Euphoric Effects: Users report intense euphoria, hallucinations, and a sense of detachment — making it attractive as a cheap “upper” or escape. Accessibility: Sold over-the-counter or on the black market despite being a controlled prescription drug. NDLEA has seized millions of pills in single operations (e.g., 3.1 million pills in Kano in late 2024, and over 5.6 million combined with Tramadol in other busts). Street Names: Exol, Artane, Benzhexol, “Farin Mallam” (in Northern Nigeria). Demographics: Prevalent among youths, laborers, and even psychiatric patients who divert prescriptions. Studies show abuse rates as high as 25% among certain outpatient groups. Health Consequences: Anticholinergic toxicity: Confusion, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, and in high doses — delirium, psychosis, seizures, and heart issues. Long-term: Cognitive impairment, addiction, exacerbated mental health disorders. Often mixed with Tramadol, codeine, or cannabis, creating dangerous synergies. In cities like Jos, Exol-5 sits alongside diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol on street markets, easily available to teenagers and young adults. Why This Evolution Continues Supply-Side Failures: Porous borders, corrupt officials, and overproduction of pharmaceuticals enable diversion. Demand Drivers: Unemployment, poverty, peer pressure, trauma, and the pursuit of performance enhancement (e.g., for “hustle” culture). Weak Regulation: Many pharmacies sell restricted drugs without prescriptions. Online and street vendors fill gaps. Displacement Effect: Cracking down on one substance (Tramadol/codeine) pushes users and dealers toward the next available option. NDLEA reports ongoing large seizures, but the problem persists due to high profitability and low risk for mid-level distributors. Broader Impacts on Nigerian Youths Education: Increased dropout rates and poor academic performance. Mental Health: Rising cases of psychosis and depression. Economy: Lost productivity among the working-age population. Crime and Violence: Drug-fueled robberies, cultism, and family breakdowns. Public Health System Strain: Overburdened hospitals treating overdoses and chronic complications. Young people aged 15–39 remain the hardest hit, with national surveys showing drug use prevalence significantly above global averages. What Must Be Done Stronger Enforcement: Consistent prosecution of corrupt enablers and large-scale traffickers. Regulation: Crackdown on rogue pharmacies and better tracking of prescription drugs. Prevention & Rehabilitation: School programs, community outreach, and expanded treatment centers (currently woefully inadequate). Economic Alternatives: Address root causes like youth unemployment. Public Awareness: Honest campaigns highlighting real dangers of “Exol-5” and similar drugs. Conclusion From Tramadol’s opioid grip to “Canadian” cannabis culture and now Exol-5’s anticholinergic highs, Nigeria’s drug crisis is mutating faster than responses can contain it. Exol-5 represents the dangerous new frontier — a legitimate medicine turned youth destroyer due to misuse and greed. Without urgent, multi-layered intervention — combining supply disruption, demand reduction, and socioeconomic support — an entire generation risks being lost to addiction. The time for half-measures is over. Nigeria’s future depends on winning this fight.