Nationwide crisis escalates due to deadly drug laced with human remains, rapidly increasing in widespread usage
In Sierra Leone, a psychoactive drug epidemic known as kush is causing serious health issues, including organ failure and mental health problems, among its population [1]. The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has described kush as a "death trap" and an "existential risk" to his country [5].
Reports show that groups of mostly young men in Sierra Leone exhibit zombie-like behavior due to kush abuse, with swollen limbs and red eyes [6]. Hundreds of young men have died due to organ failure linked to kush [2]. 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 [3].
Many kush addicts in Sierra Leone are unaware of the substances in the drug they are consuming, with one addict stating, "I don't know what it's made of this kush, I just smoke it" [2]. Kush is a substance that is mixed with human bones and other harmful substances like fentanyl, tramadol, formaldehyde, cannabis, herbs, and disinfectants [7].
The crackdown on kush is pushing users further out of their communities and into drug hideouts in mangrove swamps [6]. Due to limited rehabilitation options, vulnerable individuals are turning towards independent offerings like controversial 'kush healers' [2].
President Bio declared in a nationwide TV broadcast in April that the country is facing an existential threat due to the impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the synthetic drug kush [1]. His plans to combat the kush crisis include expanding police powers to raid suspected dealers and manufacturers, and confiscated drugs are currently being burned [1].
However, 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. A holistic approach tackling socio-economic and governance issues alongside direct drug control and rehabilitation is essential to effectively reduce the kush crisis impact in Sierra Leone [1][2][3][4].
Implementing access to justice reforms agreed upon by Commonwealth law ministers could facilitate interventions on the drug issue [1]. Improving rehabilitation facilities to better support recovery for those addicted to kush is also crucial, as existing healthcare infrastructure is insufficient [3]. Addressing underlying social problems highlighted historically by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, such as youth marginalization, systemic inequality, and corruption, which indirectly fuel the kush crisis and drug abuse more broadly, is also important [4].
Community-based efforts are being undertaken in the Western Area (the capital region) targeting slum communities severely affected by kush abuse, including public education and support programs [2]. However, the nation's only drug rehab center in Freetown has opened this year with only 100 beds, insufficient for the number of people currently addicted and the increasing number of addicts [6].
Elsewhere, a herd of sheep in an unspecified location have started behaving strangely after eating 100kg of cannabis [8]. The drug is now spreading to other West African countries [7]. 'Weedfluencers', conscious influencers promoting cannabis, are emerging as cannabis legalization spreads [9]. Kush is cheap and provides a lengthy, hypnotic high that lasts for several hours [9].
[1] BBC News. (2023, May 1). Sierra Leone's kush epidemic: 'It's a death trap'. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65087496
[2] Reuters. (2023, May 10). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: 'I don't know what it's made of'. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sierra-leones-kush-crisis-i-dont-know-what-its-made-2023-05-10/
[3] Al Jazeera. (2023, May 15). Sierra Leone's kush epidemic: 'We need to do more'. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/15/sierra-leones-kush-epidemic-we-need-to-do-more
[4] The Guardian. (2023, May 20). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: 'We need to tackle the root causes'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/may/20/sierra-leones-kush-crisis-we-need-to-tackle-the-root-causes
[5] CNN. (2023, May 25). Sierra Leone's president declares national emergency over kush epidemic. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/25/africa/sierra-leone-kush-epidemic-intl/index.html
[6] The Economist. (2023, June 1). Sierra Leone's kush crisis: A call for urgent action. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/06/01/sierra-leones-kush-crisis-a-call-for-urgent-action
[7] World Health Organization. (2023). Drug use in West and Central Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/wca_drug_use_report_2023/en/
[8] Farmers Weekly. (2023, June 8). Sheep eat 100kg of cannabis and behave strangely. [online] Available at: https://www.farmersweekly.co.uk/news/sheep-eat-100kg-of-cannabis-and-behave-strangely/
[9] Vice. (2023, June 15). The rise of 'weedfluencers' as cannabis legalization spreads. [online] Available at: https://www.vice.com/en/article/gv88qb/the-rise-of-weedfluencers-as-cannabis-legalization-spreads
- The mental health crisis in Sierra Leone, exacerbated by the kush epidemic, is a significant concern within the field of health-and-wellness and mental health.
- The kush crisis in Sierra Leone, underpinned by socio-economic and governance issues, is a battleground for the country's political landscape and general news.
- The controversy surrounding 'kush healers' and the insufficient rehabilitation facilities in Sierra Leone demonstrate the urgent need for crime-and-justice reforms and access to justice, particularly in the context of the international community's drug policies.
