By Josephine Sesay

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has called for a united, whole-of-society response to the country’s escalating drug-abuse crisis, warning that the problem has grown beyond the capacity of the health sector alone to manage.

Speaking on the alarming rise in the use of synthetic drugs, particularly the substance known locally as kush, Dr. Demby revealed that reported cases have surged from 47 in 2020 to 1,865 in 2023, representing an overall increase of more than 3,800 percent.

This is not just a health problem it’s a societal problem, Dr. Demby said, all sectors of society must come together to address it from every angle, the minister outlined key priorities in the government’s evolving national strategy to combat the drug crisis, including:

Disrupting the supply chain by curbing importation and local production of illicit substances, Strengthening law enforcement to arrest traffickers and dismantle smuggling networks, expanding health and social services, including rehabilitation and psychosocial support for users many of whom are vulnerable young people.

Mobilising communities and families to engage schools, youth, and civil society groups in prevention and early intervention, Dr. Demby described kush as a cheap, highly potent synthetic drug, often mixed with chemicals and pharmaceuticals locally produced in Sierra Leone, making it especially hazardous, he also stressed the importance of compassion in the national response, Kush victims are not to be blamed or punished they should be supported and encouraged to recover.

The government is now refining its national drug-control framework by improving data collection, expanding treatment and rehabilitation facilities, and fostering stronger coordination among health, social welfare, justice, and community sectors.

A recent national survey on substance abuse revealed that 62 percent of respondents admitted to using illicit substances. It also identified youth unemployment, peer pressure, and lack of educational or economic opportunities as major drivers of the epidemic.

As Sierra Leone grapples with this deepening crisis, officials and communities alike are being urged to act collectively recognizing that the fight against drug abuse requires not only enforcement, but empathy, opportunity, and sustained national unity.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 31st October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)