Under a bridge near a bustling market in Freetown, the young people gather in their masses. Dressed in nothing but rags, they stand like zombies – shoulders slouched, heads cocked to the side – as they aimlessly shuffle in circles. Many are without shoes, their feet bare and swollen from infection.
Those that have yet to reach this catatonic state pass a joint between themselves. It’s a mixture of opioids, cannabis, disinfectant and, locals say, ground-down human bones that have been dug up from graves. They inhale the fumes, slowly breathe out, and wait for euphoria’s embrace.
Amara Kallon, a 21-year-old school dropout, is among the addicts here. He comes daily for his hit of “kush” – a synthetic, cannabinoid-like drug that is sweeping through the youth of Sierra Leone’s capital. It induces a long-lasting, hypnotic high which can detach users from reality for several hours.
“When I smoke kush, I forget my problems. It usually takes me to ecstasy,” says Amara, who is homeless.
“I used to smoke a couple of slings of marijuana a day but after I was introduced to kush by friends, I never turned back. I sold my clothes and books to satisfy my addiction. I started stealing house-hold items, phones, pots and dishes to buy drugs.”
The drug has become commonplace across Sierra Leone, with whole neighbourhoods and communities addicted to the narcotic. But putting a precise figure on usage rates is difficult.
The Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Freetown says it has been overwhelmed with addicts in recent years. The number of referrals keeps rising on a daily basis, and many are sedated upon arrival at the facility due to their violent tendencies.
“We have already recorded nearly 2,000 cases of kush addicts in 2023 at the hospital. Many are dying in homes and on the streets,” says Dr Jusu Mattia, acting medical superintendent at the centre. In 2020, it identified 47 people as users. In 2022, it was 1,101. Most of the patients are men between 18 and 25.
“The kush drug crisis is everywhere, but only a few are referred and most of those treated end up relapsing,” adds Dr Mattia.
