April 7th 2024.
Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, has recently declared a national emergency due to the increasing use of a dangerous drug known as kush. This substance not only causes severe addiction, but it also contains human bones as one of its ingredients. It should not be confused with the similarly named drug in the United States, as the two are quite distinct.
Unlike the US version, which is a blend of chemicals sprayed on plant material for smoking, Sierra Leone's kush is made up of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, formaldehyde, and reportedly, ground human bones, according to various sources. Some believe that the sulfur in the bones contributes to the drug's intense high. This psychoactive substance is highly addictive and has even been linked to episodes of sleepwalking.
The use of kush has become so widespread in Sierra Leone that President Julius Maada Bio has declared it a "death trap." In a nationwide broadcast on April 4, he stated, "Our country is currently facing an existential threat due to the devastating impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the synthetic drug kush."
As the use of kush continues to take its toll on the country, more and more users are ending up in the hospital with organ failure and mental health issues. The country's only psychiatric hospital has seen a 4,000% increase in patients seeking treatment for drug-related issues since 2020.
To address this crisis, President Bio has ordered the establishment of a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse. Each district in the country will have a center staffed by trained professionals to assist those struggling with addiction. However, some citizens are skeptical that this approach will be effective, believing that the government lacks the resources and determination to truly combat the issue.
Marie, a mother in Sierra Leone who lost her son to kush, expressed her doubts, saying, "There is a lot more that the authorities must do beyond the president's address last night to combat this scourge." However, the head of the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Abdul Jalloh, sees the declaration of a national emergency as a positive step. "It shows that resources, attention, and intervention are being prioritized to combat this growing epidemic," he stated.
Currently, the only drug rehabilitation center in Sierra Leone is located in the capital city of Freetown. While this 100-bed facility continues to help those struggling with addiction, many in other areas of the country are still waiting for more centers to open. This crisis has even caught the attention of actor Idris Elba, who is building a wind-powered eco-city on an island in Sierra Leone to address environmental and societal issues.
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