Has Govt Lost The War on Kush?

By Abdul Rahman Bah

Sierra Leone’s growing Kush epidemic has become one of the most disturbing public health and social challenges confronting the country. What initially appeared to be a problem affecting a section of young people has developed into a national crisis, threatening the country’s human capital, public health system, family structures and future economic development.

Despite the government’s declaration of a national emergency on drug and substance abuse in April 2024, the continued presence of Kush in communities raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s response, the strength of law enforcement and the government’s commitment to addressing the underlying causes of drug addiction.

Kush is not simply another dangerous substance. Its unpredictable chemical composition and highly addictive properties make it particularly threatening. Research conducted by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes, a class of extremely powerful synthetic opioids, in samples of Kush sold in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. These findings demonstrate the serious risks associated with a substance whose contents can vary between batches. International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) +1

The danger is compounded by the absence of sufficiently developed national toxicological surveillance. This makes it difficult for health authorities to establish precisely what people are consuming, identify emerging substances and develop appropriate treatment protocols.

In April 2024, President Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency on drug and substance abuse, promising a comprehensive national response involving prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, social support, law enforcement and community engagement. The declaration was an important recognition of the seriousness of the crisis. However, a declaration of emergency must be measured by tangible improvements in people’s lives, not the strength of presidential speeches or the number of meetings organised by government institutions.

The scale of public concern is reflected in an Afrobarometer survey published in August 2025. The survey found that 96 per cent of Sierra Leoneans had heard about Kush, while 99 per cent of those aware of the drug considered its abuse a significant national problem. More alarmingly, 61 per cent said they personally knew a neighbour who had used Kush, while 49 per cent knew a relative who had consumed it. These figures demonstrate that the crisis has moved beyond isolated communities and become a nationwide concern. Afrobarometer

However, the most revealing findings come from an International Growth Centre (IGC) policy study published in March 2026, based on research involving 400 active Kush users in Freetown. The study found that 67 per cent of respondents were employed before they started using the drug, while another 20 per cent were attending school. Only 13 per cent were unemployed when they first used Kush.

This challenges the popular assumption that drug addiction is exclusively a consequence of unemployment and poverty. The research further found that peer pressure was the leading reason for first use, with more than 60 per cent identifying social influence as their motivation. One in six respondents started using Kush before reaching the age of 18.

Even more disturbing, 52 per cent of active users surveyed were homeless, while another 21 per cent lived in squatter settlements. The study also found that 91 per cent reported serious damage to their relationships with family and friends. These findings expose the devastating economic and social consequences of addiction. International Growth Centre

Government rehabilitation efforts deserve recognition. On 21 August 2026, the United Nations in Sierra Leone reported that 1,071 young people had undergone rehabilitation through government-supported programmes since the emergency declaration. The graduation of the eighth cohort, comprising 94 young people at the Peace Mission Training Centre in Hastings, represented an important milestone.

Nevertheless, the number of people rehabilitated should not automatically be interpreted as proof that the national strategy is succeeding. How many graduates have secured employment? How many have returned to drug use? How many are receiving continuous psychological and medical support? These are important questions that require transparent answers.

Indeed, the IGC study found that 88 per cent of rehabilitation programme graduates interviewed were unemployed, while half reported that stigma made finding employment difficult. It also warned that the government’s rehabilitation programme had not undergone rigorous independent evaluation to establish its long-term success rate. International Growth Centre +1

This is where government policy must move beyond rehabilitation ceremonies and public awareness campaigns. Recovering young people need vocational training, employment opportunities, counselling, family support and continuous monitoring. Without economic reintegration, rehabilitation risks becoming a temporary intervention rather than a sustainable solution.

The government must also strengthen intelligence-led investigations into drug trafficking networks, identify those financing the trade and pursue suppliers, distributors and major traffickers. Arresting street-level users while failing to dismantle the wider supply chain would be a fundamentally inadequate response. Drug-dependent individuals should receive treatment and protection, while those organising and profiting from the illegal trade must face the full force of the law.

Furthermore, the Ministries of Health, Social Welfare, Youth Affairs, Education and Internal Affairs must demonstrate stronger coordination. Schools, universities, religious institutions, local councils, traditional leaders and community organisations should be involved in prevention programmes. The country also needs stronger border surveillance and regional cooperation with Guinea, Liberia and other West African countries because drug trafficking does not respect national boundaries.

Ultimately, Sierra Leone cannot afford to lose another generation to Kush. The crisis is not merely about drug consumption; it is about failed opportunities, weak social protection, inadequate mental health services, organised criminal activity and the country’s inability to protect vulnerable young people.

President Bio’s declaration of a national emergency in 2024 raised expectations. More than two years later, the government must demonstrate measurable results rather than rely on announcements and official statistics without independent assessments.

The fundamental question is no longer whether Sierra Leone has a Kush crisis. The question is whether the government has a sufficiently effective strategy to defeat it.

If the country continues to treat Kush primarily as a law-enforcement problem without confronting its economic, social and public health dimensions, the consequences will remain devastating. Sierra Leone needs accountability, scientific evidence, effective treatment and genuine opportunities for its young people.

The future of the country cannot be protected through speeches alone. It requires decisive leadership and sustained national action.