The West African country of Sierra Leone has declared a national emergency after being confronted with a haunting menace: a psychoactive drug crafted from human bones. Dubbed "kush," this narcotic concoction has sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting extraordinary measures including the guarding of cemeteries to thwart the macabre practice of exhuming skeletons for drug production.
Kush, a toxic brew composed of a medley of substances such as herbs, cannabis, and disinfectant, has surged in popularity, drawing desperate users seeking its euphoric effects. However, the most alarming ingredient, human bone, allegedly infuses the drug with heightened potency due to its sulphur content.
Groups of mostly young men sitting on street corners with limbs swollen by kush abuse is a common sight in Sierra Leone. With a bandage around his ankle, one recovering addict told the drug has a tight grip on him. "I don't like doing this, but I cannot leave it because I enjoy it," he said.
Addicts, suppliers and dealers have reportedly started digging up graves and exhuming bones from graveyards in Freetown to make the drug. The menace has been claiming dozens of people every month from overdoses and toxic chemicals present in it.
President Bio, in a nationwide address, issued a stark warning, framing the drug epidemic as an existential threat: "Our country faces a dire crisis from the scourge of drug abuse, particularly the insidious synthetic drug kush."
Reports from medical professionals and doctors cite a surge in deaths attributed to organ failure among young men due to the drug. Users are debilitated and sit like 'zombies' for hours after consuming the drug.
Admissions to psychiatric facilities for kush-related illnesses have skyrocketed by nearly 4000% between 2020 and 2023, primarily afflicting males aged 18-25. Despite its toll, kush remains remarkably accessible, commanding a price of 20p per joint. Many spend around Rs 800 on the drug daily even though the average annual income of people is around Rs 42,000. The country is among the poorest in the world.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Bio has established a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, signalling a concerted effort to combat the epidemic. However, there is a dearth of rehabilitation facilities with just one centre serving the entire nation.
Experts attribute the epidemic to a confluence of factors, including rampant unemployment and economic upheaval exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Edward Nahim, a consultant psychiatrist, warns of kush's insidious spread, likening it to heroin or cocaine in its potency and availability.
