In the impoverished streets of Sierra Leone, a new drug called “Kush” has emerged, promising a temporary escape from the harsh realities of poverty and despair. However, its fleeting euphoria comes at a devastating cost, especially for the young population.
Mohamed (name changed), a 25-year-old garbage picker in Freetown, described his daily routine of smoking joints laced with kush, seeking moments of “high meditation” followed by a cycle of sleep, waking, and eating, only to repeat the process endlessly.
For him and many others, kush has become an all-consuming addiction, draining their meager finances with around $10 spent daily – a significant sum in a country where the average per capita income barely exceeds $500 annually.
Sierra Leone, known as one of the world’s poorest nations, is grappling with the alarming spread of this synthetic drug, which surfaced roughly six years ago.
Manufactured and distributed by criminal gangs, kush is a combination of various chemicals and plants that mimic the effects of the natural THC found in cannabis.
The potency of the drug can be dangerously amplified, leading to severe consequences for its users, particularly the young.
Ibrahim Hassan Koroma, the founder of an NGO called the Mental Watch Advocacy Network, expressed deep concern about the rising death toll among young Kush users.
He emphasized the urgency of developing a focused strategy to address the root causes of drug addiction and the alarming rate at which young people are falling prey to this perilous substance.
The scourge of kush addiction knows no boundaries in Freetown. From the slums to affluent areas, users can be found in various states of intoxication, displaying a stark contrast between their drug-induced tranquility and the squalid reality surrounding them.
One of the drug’s victims, Kadiatu, a 22-year-old woman, shared her harrowing experience with kush addiction. The drug has ravaged her life, leaving her with physical scars from knife attacks and emotional wounds that run even deeper.
To sustain her addiction, she has resorted to sex work, a tragic consequence of the drug’s grip on her life.
As Abdul Sheku Kargbo, the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, explained, the root cause of the growing addiction lies in the poverty and neglect that many face daily.
Instead of stigmatizing the users, there is a call for understanding and addressing the underlying issues that drive them towards kush.
Sierra Leone faces an arduous battle against the menace of kush, as criminal networks continue to distribute this hazardous drug.
With young lives at stake and the social fabric of communities unraveling urgent action and support are needed to break the hellish cycle of addiction and offer hope for a better future.
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