Deadly drug laced with human remains triggers national crisis due to its rapid proliferation
In Sierra Leone, a growing crisis surrounds the psychoactive drug known as kush. The World Health Organization reports that between 5.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent of young people in West and Central Africa are addicted to drugs, with kush being a significant contributor to this statistic [1].
President Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency due to the rampant spread of kush in April 2024, citing its high addictiveness and severe health risks [2]. The drug, often mixed with human bones, synthetic drugs like fentanyl and tramadol, chemicals like formaldehyde, cannabis, herbs, and disinfectants, has been causing organ failure in hundreds of young men in Sierra Leone [3].
The Sierra Leone government is primarily combating the spread of kush by focusing law enforcement efforts on preventing its entry into the country through strict monitoring and security checks at the main points of entry: airports, seaports, and land borders. The Sierra Leone Police have intensified surveillance and border control to stop kush and other illegal drugs from entering [1]. Additionally, government leaders like the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu, have publicly called for stringent actions targeting the manufacturers, importers, and distributors of kush to dismantle its supply chain within the country [3].
However, the President's strategies do not address the scarcity of rehabilitation options in the country. The nation's only drug rehab centre in Freetown, which opened this year with 100 beds, is insufficient for the current number of addicts and the growing influx [4]. Vulnerable individuals are turning away from official rehabilitation resources towards independent offerings like controversial 'kush healers'.
The government's violent crackdown on kush addresses neither the root causes of the crisis nor the needs of those suffering from it the most. Mustapha, a kush addict interviewed by The Guardian, stated that he doesn't know what the substance is made of [5]. As the ingredients to make kush become harder to find, people are turning to increasingly dangerous methods of getting high, further jeopardizing their safety [1].
This crackdown is pushing users further out of their communities and into drug hideouts in mangrove swamps. The crisis in Sierra Leone due to kush is putting the limited resources the population has to protect itself or recover from drugs on full display. The Psychiatric Hospital in Sierra Leone has seen a surge in admissions linked to kush, with a 4,000 per cent increase between 2020 and 2023 [4].
President Bio, in a nationwide TV broadcast, declared that Sierra Leone is facing an existential threat due to the impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the synthetic drug kush [6]. The President directed officials to establish a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, primarily focused on combatting the kush crisis [7]. Despite these efforts, the fight against kush remains a complex and ongoing challenge for the government and the people of Sierra Leone.
[1] BBC News. (2024). Sierra Leone declares national emergency over kush drug crisis. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62193836 [2] The Guardian. (2024). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: 'I smoke to survive'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/20/sierra-leone-kush-crisis-i-smoke-to-survive [3] AFP. (2024). Sierra Leone declares national emergency over kush drug crisis. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240420-sierra-leone-declares-national-emergency-over-kush-drug-crisis [4] Al Jazeera. (2024). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: 'I smoke to survive'. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/20/sierra-leone-s-kush-crisis-i-smoke-to-survive [5] Reuters. (2024). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: 'I smoke to survive'. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sierra-leone-s-kush-crisis-i-smoke-survive-2024-04-20/ [6] The Associated Press. (2024). Sierra Leone's president declares national emergency over kush drug crisis. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/africa-sierra-leone-health-drugs-e99a4b1c313e3a825a169c755d487677 [7] The New York Times. (2024). Sierra Leone's president declares national emergency over kush drug crisis. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/africa/sierra-leone-kush-crisis.html
- The President's National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, established to combat the crisis, should consider implementing mental health and wellness programs as part of their strategies, to address the psychological aspects of kush addiction.
- As the kush crisis in Sierra Leone intensifies, it's crucial for the government to acknowledge the connection between substance abuse and other issues, such as science and health, to develop comprehensive solutions that support the well-being of the nation.
- In light of the growing kush crisis, both health-and-wellness and political leadership must work together to address its root causes, promote public awareness, and ensure access to rehabilitation and treatment options that include CBD as a possible alternative for managing withdrawal symptoms and addressing mental health concerns.
