Nationwide crisis escalates due to lethal drug laced with human remains, causing accelerated widespread usage
Sierra Leone is grappling with a severe public health crisis caused by the widespread use of the synthetic psychoactive drug, Kush. This drug, which provides a lengthy, hypnotic high and first surfaced in Sierra Leone about six years ago, is now spreading to other West African countries.
The government has declared Kush a public health emergency, highlighting the urgency and scale of the problem. The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu, has called for strong action against the manufacturers, importers, and distributors of Kush, urging authorities to "fall heavily" on these actors to curb the drug's availability and circulation.
Law enforcement, such as the Harbour Police Division, is actively involved in confiscating substances suspected to be related to Kush or cannabis, conducting forensic examinations, and investigating illegal possession and trafficking. However, the government's violent crackdown addresses the root causes of the crisis the least.
Kush is a cheap synthetic drug whose use is associated with severe addiction, especially among young people struggling with poverty and social challenges. Users often experience devastating impacts on their mental health, including addiction, social marginalization, and risky living conditions. The broader health impacts include increased vulnerability to physical and mental disorders due to the drug’s potent psychoactive properties, contributing to the strain on public health systems.
Vulnerable individuals are turning away from official resources towards independent offerings like controversial 'kush healers'. In response, the President's plans to wage war on kush primarily consist of expanding police powers to raid suspected dealers and manufacturers. Yet, the nation's only drug rehab center, located in Freetown, opened this year with 100 beds.
The Psychiatric Hospital in Sierra Leone has seen a surge in admissions linked to kush, with admissions increasing by almost 4,000% from 2020 to 2023. Hundreds of young men in Sierra Leone have died of organ failure linked to kush.
Between 5.2% and 13.5% of young people in West and Central Africa are addicted to drugs, according to the World Health Organization. As the ingredients to make kush are becoming harder to find, people are turning to increasingly dangerous methods of getting high. Kush is a substance mixed with human bones, synthetic drugs like fentanyl and tramadol, chemicals like formaldehyde, cannabis, herbs, and disinfectants.
The President, Julius Maada Bio, declared a national emergency due to the rampant spread of kush. His plans to combat the crisis involve not only legal enforcement against supply channels but also official recognition of Kush as a public health emergency. However, the social and mental health harms from widespread addiction and use of this synthetic drug continue to take a heavy toll on Sierra Leone's population.
The President, Julius Maada Bio, recognizes the health-and-wellness implications of the Kush crisis and has officially declared it a public health emergency. To address this mental-health concern, he has also planned to expand police powers while emphasizing the need for official drug rehabilitation centers, such as the one in Freetown. Moreover, the political arena is engaged in efforts to curb the availability and circulation of Kush through measures against its manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
