By Hassan Osman Kargbo

In a sobering revelation to Parliament, Dr. Sartie Kanneh, the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, painted a grim picture of Sierra Leone’s drug crisis, particularly focusing on the surge of Kush abuse among the nation’s youth.

According to Dr. Kanneh, out of the 2,955 patients admitted to the Kissy Psychiatric Hospital in 2023 for drug-related issues, a staggering 1,865 cases were attributed to Kush, with a concerning 75% falling within the vulnerable age bracket of 20 to 34 years old.

“The rate at which Kush is destroying the young people is very alarming,” emphasized Dr. Kanneh. “Majority of the victims of the narcotic drugs are between the ages of 20 to 34 years old.”

Revealing nationwide statistics, Dr. Kanneh underscored that in 2023 alone, Kissy Psychiatric Hospital recorded 1,865 kush-related admissions, along with 701 cases involving tramadol and 127 cases of cannabis sativa. Expressing concern over the strain on the healthcare system, Dr. Kanneh asserted that the Health sector is ill-equipped to effectively combat the kush crisis.

Minister Kanneh further revealed that over 300 young individuals, brought in by concerned parents as victims of kush abuse, are currently awaiting placement in rehabilitation centers. These individuals, he noted, are presently housed in makeshift arrangements, awaiting the necessary rehabilitation support.

Meanwhile, addressing the legislative body, Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, shed light on law enforcement’s efforts to tackle the drug scourge.

Confirming recent seizures of tramadol totalling 139 cartons, Sellu highlighted the need for stricter legislative measures, including comprehensive container inspections to curb drug trafficking.

Sellu emphasized the importance of public cooperation in combating drug trafficking, citing challenges such as insufficient fines for convicts and a lack of community intelligence. “The dealers of these drugs are people who reside in our communities,” Sellu remarked. “We rely on public collaboration to dismantle these networks.”

In a significant breakthrough, Sellu announced the arrest of key drug traffickers, including notorious figure Bigitel, whose wife was also arrested yesterday. However, Sellu stressed the need for expedited judicial processes and harsher penalties to effectively deter drug-related offenses.

Amidst these developments, President Julius Maada Bio’s silence on the recent deaths of 32 compatriots due to drug abuse has raised eyebrows. As the nation grapples with a mounting crisis, President Bio’s imminent departure for the United States for a Public Lecture leaves unanswered questions about his administration’s stance on combating drug abuse and providing dignity to its victims.

In a significant development in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking, 38-year-old Juliet Kamara, the wife of the infamous drug… In a recent statement, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, has voiced deep concerns regarding the widespread prevalence…