A Commentary By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone is in the throes of a silent war; one not fought with guns or bullets, but with smoke, powder and despair. The enemy is Kush, a cheap and deadly synthetic drug that has infiltrated the lives of thousands of young people across the nation, leaving devastation in its wake. What began as an emerging street substance a few years ago has now become a full-blown epidemic, consuming the country’s most vital resource; its youth.
Every corner of Sierra Leone bears witness to the devastation of Kush. In Freetown’s slums, provincial towns and rural villages alike, once-promising young men and women now wander in “zombie-like” states; their minds hijacked, their bodies wasted. Boys drop out of school to chase the next high, turning to petty crime to sustain their addiction. Girls, some as young as 15, fall into prostitution, trading their innocence for survival.
The streets have become both their refuge and their graveyard. Families are being torn apart, communities weakened and dreams extinguished. The epidemic has not only crippled households but has also shaken the moral, cultural and spiritual foundations of the nation. As one community elder in Bo lamented recently, “We are burying our children before they bury us.”
Kush is not a single drug but a toxic cocktail of substances. Tests have revealed that it often contains synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes, opioids up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl; along with tramadol and other chemical additives. Local dealers blend imported ingredients with crushed leaves, producing a substance that delivers a cheap but deadly high.
The side effects are horrific. Users experience hallucinations, paranoia and prolonged drowsiness. Over time, Kush erodes mental stability, damages organs, causes severe skin sores and leads to extreme malnutrition. For many users, addiction is a one-way ticket to psychosis or death.
What makes Kush particularly dangerous is its affordability and availability. For just a few thousand Leones, anyone, even a schoolboy, can get high. This easy access has transformed the drug into a mass destroyer of potential, feeding off Sierra Leone’s deep-seated economic and social vulnerabilities.
The Kush epidemic is not just a matter of poor choices. It is a symptom of systemic failure; a reflection of poverty, unemployment and hopelessness. Sierra Leone’s youth, who make up over 60% of the population, face limited job opportunities and few avenues for self-advancement. For many, Kush offers a temporary escape from harsh realities; a chemical illusion of peace in a society that has offered them little.
Psychologists link this crisis to years of unhealed trauma. The country’s civil war, Ebola outbreak and economic hardship have left deep scars on its people, especially the young. With minimal access to mental health care, just one psychiatric hospital serves the entire nation; substance abuse has become an unhealthy form of self-medication.
Porous borders and weak drug enforcement further compound the problem. Ingredients for Kush are trafficked from far and wide, entering the country through poorly monitored ports and borders. Once inside, local gangs and small-time dealers distribute the drug in every community, often with the complicity of corrupt networks.
Recognizing the scale of the disaster, President Julius Maada Bio in April 2024 declared a National State of Emergency on Drug Abuse. The move, widely praised at home and abroad, marked a significant step toward mobilizing national and international resources. The President’s declaration led to the establishment of a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, aimed at coordinating a unified response across Ministries, law enforcement and Civil Society.
Government efforts include intensified police operations targeting drug dens, increased border surveillance and nationwide awareness campaigns. The Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and development partners, has also begun implementing a multi-sectoral plan combining prevention, rehabilitation and youth empowerment.
Yet, challenges persist. Most rehabilitation centers are not dysfunctional, leaving users without access to treatment. Funding remains inadequate and many community sensitization efforts lack coordination. For every addict that finds help, dozens more are left to perish in silence.
While the crisis has exposed deep cracks in the national fabric, it has also awakened a wave of patriotism and empathy among Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad. The Sierra Leone Kush Rehab Fundraising Campaign by citizens in the diaspora, stands as a beacon of hope. Its mission is clear: to build modern rehabilitation and counseling centers that can provide holistic treatment for addiction and reintegration into society.
Faith-based organizations, Civil Society groups and the media have also joined the fight. Religious leaders are preaching about the dangers of drug abuse, while youth advocates and former addicts are becoming powerful voices of change. Community-led programs in places like Kenema, Makeni and Waterloo are training volunteers to serve as peer educators and counselors.
This collective action underscores one crucial truth: the fight against Kush cannot be won by Government alone. It requires a united national front; one driven by compassion, understanding and resilience.
Experts agree that a lasting solution to the Kush crisis lies not merely in arrests and seizures but in rebuilding lives. The Government must invest heavily in a holistic national recovery strategy grounded in five key pillars:
- Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services – Build regional rehabilitation centers and expand community mental health programs with trained counselors.
- Youth Empowerment and Employment – Strengthen the Feed Salone and Youth Employment initiatives to provide job opportunities, vocational training and entrepreneurship support for at-risk youth.
- Public Education and Awareness – Sustain nationwide campaigns through schools, mosques, churches and media platforms to demystify addiction and promote prevention.
- Law Enforcement and Border Security – Strengthen customs surveillance and international cooperation to disrupt supply chains from source countries.
- Community Rebuilding and Family Support – Empower families and local leaders to play proactive roles in identifying, rehabilitating and reintegrating addicts.
Addiction should be treated as a health crisis, not a criminal act. The country must move from punishment to prevention; from stigmatizing addicts to supporting their recovery.
Sierra Leone’s fight against Kush is not just about saving lives; it is about saving the nation’s future. Every addict rescued is a child restored, a worker regained and a future rebuilt. If the youth are the backbone of the country, then the Kush epidemic is a slow paralysis eating away at that spine.
The time for compassion, courage and collective action is now. As President Bio emphasized, “We cannot build our nation on broken lives. We must heal our youth to heal Sierra Leone.”
If Sierra Leoneans can unite against war, disease and hunger, then surely they can unite against Kush. The road to recovery will be long and painful, but through empathy, strategic action and unyielding resolve, Sierra Leone can rise again; stronger, wiser and free from the grip of addiction.
