Africa: Stop the « Kush », a new drug already angaging young people in several countries
Kush is a new drug that has been wreaking havoc in many West African countries lately. It’s a mixture of chemicals that mimics cannabis and has already claimed several victims in countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, and poses a serious threat to Senegal.
According to numerous accounts, the consumption of this substance alters the way people perceive things, feel emotions, think, and behave. Authorities’ concerns are fueled by recent discoveries about the composition of this new synthetic drug.
According to some scientists, it contains dangerous chemicals and human bone tissues. This explanation sends shivers down the spine and has since drawn public attention to the harmful effects of « kush » on the mental health of consumers.
The consumption of « kush » is starting to spread to other West African countries. It worries governments and parents in Guinea, Liberia, and now Senegal, where foreign traffickers have been arrested in recent days.
In Sierra Leone, one of the poorest countries in the West African region, several unemployed youths turn to the consumption of this narcotic to kill boredom. From slums to the more affluent streets of the capital Freetown, where it emerged about five years ago, consumers are recognizable by their drowsiness and gait.
Faced with the threat looming over other countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Epidemiological Network on Drug Abuse (Wendu) recently convened in Abuja, Nigeria, to validate data and address regional challenges in drug abuse. « While we are focusing today on strengthening the capacity of our entire region to address drug-related issues, we are particularly concerned about the serious problems facing Sierra Leone. We are closely monitoring the situation and are committed to mobilizing targeted support as part of our regional strategy », emphasized Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of ECOWAS, who aims to promote an approach to combat that ensures a healthier and safer West African community.
It’s worth noting that given the scale of Kush consumption in the country, the Sierra Leonean government, through the General Secretariat to the Presidency of the Republic in charge of combating drugs and organized crime, plans to launch a rigorous campaign against consumers and sellers of this substance.
