By Amara Thoronka
Most recently thirty-two young persons who reportedly died of Kush were buried in one grave, and the social media was awash with footage of the tear-provoking scene.
Kush is a killer synthetic drug consumed lately by many people, especial youths, across the country. When smoked, it makes one sleepwalk like zombies we often see in horror movies. When the addiction intensifies, it affects the brain, organs and body in general. At a terminal stage, it causes swollenness and disgustingly huge sore(s) with offensive liquid oozing from it. Though there is currently no comprehensive statistics on fatality or confirmed cases for the last one or two years it has been popular in the country, it is generally believed that hundreds have died, and thousands affected by the dangerous substance.
From reports and personal observation, it seems like every family is affected, directly or indirectly. The drug is everywhere. Reports say ingredients used to produce Kush are mostly imported while the actual production, or manufacturing if you like, is done locally. Consistent reports assert that part of the ingredients used to produce Kush are chemicals used to preserve dead bodies, making the Kush drug deadlier and more psychoactive.
Yes, Kush kills; it destroys the workforce of the country – the youths. Promising young people, who were doing well in their academics, trade or skill, but unfortunately gave into Kush, have either died or are in life-threatening situations. The urge to stay hooked to the drug has caused many to rob places and people just to get the money to buy and continue smoking Kush. It is difficult to hold one’s tear at a glance of Kush victims nationwide. Sad!
To curb or eradicate the menace, President Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Government of Sierra Leone and partners continue to intensify intervention mechanisms as Kush has currently put the country on the spotlight for the wrong reason.
Giving the prevailing circumstance, and in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the country’s 1991 Constitution, His Excellency the President on 4th April 2024 declared a national health emergency on drug and substance abuse.
“Our country is currently faced with an existential threat due to the ravaging impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the devastating synthetic drug Kush. We are witnessing the destructive consequences of Kush on our country’s very foundation: our young people, in spite of our Government’s efforts to stop the proliferation of drugs and substance abuse in Sierra Leone.
This deadly Kush, which knows no boundaries of class, ethnicity, gender or religion, is taking a devastating toll on our communities, tearing apart families and robbing us of our future leaders. The deterioration and alarming mortality of our young people due to the addictive use of Kush is no longer acceptable. As a government, we say, enough is enough. as a nation, we say, enough is enough.
Synthetic drug and substance abuse are a global crisis. Sadly, it harmful effects have reached our doorsteps. Our young people are becoming increasingly addicted to Kush, which has become a death trap. 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,” President Bio declared in a televised address to the nation.
The President called for collective efforts in the fight against Kush, instructing the Vice President to establish a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse (NaTFDSA), with a focus on combating the rising Kush crisis. The said taskforce has been constituted with Prof. Foday Sahr appointed as national coordinator.
Speaking on the composition and mandate of the taskforce on drug, President Bio said: “The National Task Force will be multi-sectoral, comprising key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, Community Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Development Partners, Religious Organizations, and recovering people with substance use disorder to address drugs and substance abuse through a comprehensive Strategy. The National Task Force will be responsible for implementing a five-part Strategy for a Drug-Free Future, which includes prevention, care and treatment, social services support, law enforcement, and community engagement. This strategy will encompass all sectors of society and will be replicated at the chiefdom, township and district levels.”
Describing Kush as a ‘lethal synthetic mix’, the President said government will empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices and resist the temptation of drugs through school programs, community outreach, and media campaigns. “We understand that addiction is a health-related challenge. That is why we are investing in rehabilitation and treatment of facilities to provide support and care for those struggling with addiction. It is not enough to punish drug users or people with an addiction; we must also offer them a path to recovery and redemption.”
The President recognized that his government’s human capital development agenda and the sustained efforts and vision to move the country to a middle-income status by the year 2039 would not be materialized if young people, which constitute the largest fraction of the population, are being ravaged by Kush.
He added that his government is committed to creating more job opportunities, as according to him, “by creating more jobs, we will be shutting down one of the biggest breeding grounds for addiction, which is idleness or unproductivity.”
On those responsible for having the drug in the country, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Grand Commander of the Republic said: “Anyone who is involved in the production, trafficking, and illicit trade of these drugs, his/her time is up. There shall be no sacred cows in our quest to decisively deal with those who are caught in the act of peddling these drugs in our country.
We are strengthening our law enforcement efforts to crack down on drug trafficking and distribution network. We will work tirelessly to disrupt the supply chains that fuel this epidemic and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
We would also empower our judiciary to act decisively and prioritize drug related cases so that anyone arrested for the shipment, production and illicit trading of the chemical components and final synthetic drugs will be tried with the full weight of the law,” the President warned.
The First Gentleman of the Republic said the fight against Kush cannot succeed solely through Government actions. “It requires the collective effort of every citizen, every community, and every sector of society,” he encouraged.
President Bio admonished youths not to waste their “youthful vigour on the altar of death-bound pleasure” as Sierra Leone awaits their contributions in solving her many challenges. The President concluded his address to the nation with condolences to parents and families that have lost a loved one to Kush.
Still on mobilizing efforts and expertise to end Kush, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday 2nd April 2024 organized a townhall meeting on the fight against Kush where the honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh graced the occasion as the keynote speaker.
Vice President Jalloh said government has examined the situation as there are different intervention mechanisms ranging from sensitization, caring for victims to going after those importing, distributing and selling the Kush drug. He noted that the situation is being addressed with a multifaceted approach in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Sierra Leone Police, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ministry of Youth Affairs and other relevant stakeholders.
Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Council, the Vice President warned that those caught in Kush related crimes would be prosecuted and denied bail.
“As Chairman of the Police Council, I had given instruction that anybody caught in Kush related acts should not be given bail; even if you have a hundred and fifty lawyers, you won’t be granted bail; even if you bring all the lawyers and human right activists in this country, you won’t be granted bail. We will strongly and uncompromisingly continue to arrest, charge and sentence those responsible. Some people are already in custody; they won’t see sunlight and no number of lawyers would bring them out,” he said.
Speaking on some actions taken by government, the Second Gentleman of the Republic said: “As a government, we have dedicated two Magistrate solely to preside over drug related cases to expedite drug cases as they come in. We are working collaboratively with health experts to identify and take from the market substances used to manufacture Kush as we are made to understand that different substances are used to manufacture Kush.”
On the rationale for the townhall meeting on Kush and substance abuse in general, the Vice President said it was a platform to explain to Sierra Leoneans and development partners on how far they have come as a government and what they have been doing in the fight against substance abuse.
In her statement, Melrose Karminty – the Minister of Social Welfare said His Excellency the President is concerned and worried about the impact of the Kush drug on his people.
She said her Ministry continues to mobilize drug victims and care for them at the newly established Government Rehabilitation Center at Hastings in the outskirts of the capital, Freetown.
Major General (Rtd) David T.O Taluva – the Minister of Internal Affairs said the country needs physically and mentally fit young people to take leadership after older folks in the future.
Major General (Rtd) David T.O Taluva – Minister of Internal Affairs
“We won’t be in our positions of service forever. We want young people to take after us; but if we don’t develop and have a generation to take after us and watch them die by Kush, then it would spell doom for the future of this country. To have a brighter future, we are doing our best to help those addicted to Kush to stop taking drug and have a better life,” the former military general said.
On his part, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai – the Executive Director of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the NDLEA has trained drug law operators whom he said are actively involved in the fight against Kush. “Drug addicts have similar but diverse needs, and government is committed to addressing such,” he assured.
In the same townhall meeting on Kush, Dr. Austin Demby – the Minister of Health explained the implications of Kush when consumed.
Dr. Austin Demby – Minister of Health
“The drug, Kush affects the health of people with swollen hands and feet, body wounds, decayed teeth, among others. It can also lead to kidney damage and mental illness.
There is an artificial form of Kush brought into the country, mixed with dangerous ingredients, making it more potent and deadly. The result for taking Kush is that it damages all the organs of the body, leading to fatality,” the Health Minister explained.
Hon. Abdul Kargbo who is the leader of the opposition in Parliament called on people not to politicize the fight, saying it should be treated as a national concern; while assuring that the opposition will continue to support the President and his government to win the fight against Kush and substance abuse in general.
“This is another epidemic we are experiencing the country in the subregion. Parliament has a moral obligation to join the fight against Kush. When the country is faced with a crisis, we need to put politics aside and put hands together to address such crisis. During Ebola, President Bio, who was not President at that time, toured the entire country to sensitize people on the Ebola epidemic. Also, during the COVID pandemic, lawmakers from different political parties were united in raising awareness. Now that we have Kush, which has turned into a pandemic, we all are supposed to come together; Kush does not choose who to affect; it affects all of us. It ruins the future generation, the next generations of APC [opposition party] and SLPP [ruling party]. This is more the reason why we need to come together and fight against this menace. Let us help the President Bio led government to fight against Kush for a better Sierra Leone,” the opposition leader narrated.
Hon. Bashiru Silikie, the deputy leader of government business in Parliament noted that lawmakers, from the ruling and opposition, are unanimous in this fight and are in full support of policies, actions and interventions to end the raving menace.
The Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu assured that no suspected drug dealer will be left unprosecuted, not even police officers.
William Faiya Sellu, Inspector General of Police
Speaking at the townhall meeting on Kush, the police boss disclosed that some police and prison officers were being prosecuted for their reported involvement in peddling Kush. “This is to tell you there is no sacred cow,” he said.
On the legal stance, Mohamed Lamin Tarawally Esq. – the country’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice warned people about the implications for drug pushing.
Mohamed Lamin Tarawally Esq. – Attorney General and Minister of Justice
“If you are convicted for manufacturing, importing, distributing or selling Kush, the minimum jail term is five years. Convicts can even be given life imprisonment. We have the Pharmacy and Drug Act and the Drug Law Enforcement Act and more that we use to prosecute those implicated,” Mr. Tarawalley said.
Reiterating government’s position in eradicating the deadly Kush drug, Chernor Bah – the Minster of Information and Civic Education said: “No matter how high you are, no matter how low you are, no matter how close you are to power, no matter how far you are from power, the commitment of His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio and that of the Government of Sierra Leone is that if we catch you in the importation, sale and distribution of Kush, the full weight of the laws of Sierra Leone will descend on you and nobody will help you out. This is the position of government as communicated by the Honourable Vice President.”
Chernor Bah – Minster of Information and Civic Education
At the townhall meeting on Kush, victims explained how the drug had affected their health and wellbeing. Those undergoing rehabilitation expressed thanks and appreciation to government for helping them get out of the clutches of Kush. They advised other young people not to get anywhere close to the substance as its implication is fatal.
Scene of the townhall meeting on Kush
It is now obvious that all of us are somehow affected by the consequences of Kush. We are now left with no option than to fight and win this war on Kush. We have a history of always teaming up to fight a common national enemy. Let us do the same and get rid of this destructive and potential-killing enemy, Kush. Yes, we can.
Meanwhile, Parliament has on Thursday, April 11, 2024 rejected the recent health State of Emergency on Kush proclaimed by His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio for lack of regulations. Lawmakers from both sides of aisle have urged the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to provide the regulations within a given period.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Magazine on Monday, April 19th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
