By Alusine Fullah
His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio has on Thursday 4th April, 2024 declared a National Emergency on Drug and Substance Abuse. This declaration came in as a result of the devastating effect of the new drug in town call Kush. He said: “It is my solemn duty as your President, acting on the powers conferred on me by the Constitution, to declare a National Emergency on Drug and Substance Abuse.” H.E Bio firmly stated that the deterioration and alarming mortality of our young people due to the addictive use of Kush is no longer acceptable.
For a robust fight, H.E Bio has directed for the setting up of a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse (NaTFDSA). The National Task Force will be multi-sectoral, comprising key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, Community Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Development Partners, Religious Organisations, and recovering people with substance use disorder to address drugs and substance abuse through a comprehensive Strategy. He noted: “Our fight against Kush should be a collective effort, which is why I have directed the setting up of a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse (NaTFDSA), with a particular focus on combating the rising Kush crisis…”
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.
