By Thaimu T Kamara
The Sierra Leone government’s efforts to combat the spread of Kush,a cheap and highly addictive synthetic drug, are faltering as youth addiction rates soar across urban and rural areas. Despite public awareness campaigns and sporadic crackdowns, experts and community leaders highlight systemic failures economic hardship, weak enforcement, and inconsistent policies as key drivers of the escalating crisis,
Once confined to Freetown’s slums, Kush use has permeated schools, marketplaces, and rural communities, driven by its affordability and accessibility. The drug, known for its rapid and intense high, preys on vulnerable youth grappling with unemployment and despair. Community activist Fatima Yusuf lamented, it’s heartbreaking to see boys as young as 13 using Kush openly. This is a crisis of lost potential.
Critics attribute the government’s struggles to inadequate strategies and systemic issues. Weak law enforcement, compounded by corruption, undermines crackdowns, while the absence of comprehensive rehabilitation programs leaves addicts like Lamin Sesay, a 24-year-old in recovery, with little support. There are no jobs, no hope, Sesay shared. Kush helps people escape their problems. The government must prioritize job creation and youth empowerment to tackle this.
The crisis reflects deeper socioeconomic woes, The Ministry of Social Welfare has piloted youth training programs, but critics argue these lack scale and impact, echoing governance gaps seen in initiatives like “Feed Salone.
Community leaders are calling for urgent action, including public-private partnerships to fund rehabilitation and vocational programs. We need to give our youth purpose, not just punishment, said Dr. Aminata Conteh, a public health expert. As the government faces mounting pressure, Sierra Leoneans await a strategy that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of the Kush epidemic.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
