By Alusine Fullah

Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia are grappling with an increasing number of young people becoming addicted to a substance known as Kush or K2. Abuse of the drug has already killed several people in the region according to Global mental health expert, Dr. Abdul Jalloh.

It’s a substance rolled up and smoked like a cigarette or cannabis. But the illegal synthetic drug known as Kush is not to be mistaken with the synonymous marijuana strain. Rising cases in Sierra Leone and Guinea have shown that the drug is dangerous: After a few puffs, the consumer is left stoned, unable to stand upright. Yet despite the aftereffects — which include falling, body injuries, and loss of self-esteem — users still search for an opportunity to obtain more.But, to be honest, as it stands, Sierra Leone is the hardest hit. A new drug that appeared around 5 years ago is wreaking havoc among young people in Sierra Leone: Kush, a mixture of chemicals that mimics cannabis. In this West African country, one of the poorest in the world, you only need 23 euro cents to treat yourself to an hour-long trance.

Many Sierra Leoneans were saddened to hear that 32 youths died from Kush and buried at the Kingtom Cemetery. The news came straight from Sinneh Kamara, who works with the Ministry of Health. When interviewed on BBC, Mr. Kamara said: “The bodies of 32 unidentified people – 25 men and seven women – who had all died after taking the drug known as Kush were buried in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, on Thursday, Sinneh Kamara, who works with the ministry of health to conduct the funerals…”

Mr. President you should take strong action in dealing with anyone who imports Kush.  Despite police are struggling to contain the problem, but as the number one gentle man in this country, it is high time you acted tough. As many youths continue to languish from this menace, Sierra Leoneans think it is high time you declared a State of Health Emergency on Kush. Tough measures are needed at this point in time.