A new substance is causing widespread chaos in Sierra Leone, transforming many of its young population into "zombies," and disturbingly, some of these drugs are concocted using human bone fragments.
Known as "Kush," the drug is crafted from a blend of herbs, toxic chemicals, and even human bones. Priced at just 20p per joint, Kush has gained immense popularity among Sierra Leone's youth.
Addicts claim that it transports them to a different realm where self-awareness is lost. Although technically illegal in Sierra Leone, Kush is openly bought and sold on the streets of Freetown.
The exact composition of Kush remains a mystery, with ingredients varying from one batch to another. Opioids like fentanyl are often detected in the joints, alongside a mix of herbs and ground-up human bones.
According to medical experts, the bones contain traces of sulfur, which can intensify the drug's effects. Locals report that dealers have raided numerous graves, stealing skeletons to use as an ingredient.
One victim, 25-year-old Abu Bakhar, abandoned his dreams of a music career due to Kush, which reduced him to a virtual zombie. He expressed, "Because of drugs, I did not concentrate on music, studies, writing, or anything."
Like many Kush addicts, Bakhar lost his home and now resides on a landfill site on the outskirts of Freetown, where over a thousand others live, scavenging for valuables to sell and fund their Kush addiction.
Alhaji, another victim, became addicted after trying just one joint of the mysterious new zombie drug. He said, "I went to the ghetto to buy another one and smoke it. I said 'This is so sweet, can I get more?' and that's how I became an addict." Despite attempting to quit, he struggles and seeks help.
Initially planning to enroll in medical college, Alhaji's dreams were shattered by Kush, transforming him into someone unrecognizable.
Amara Kallon, 21, shared her experience, stating, "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, resorting to stealing household items to buy drugs."
The drug's rampant use among Sierra Leone's youth is a serious concern, according to Dr. Jusu Mattia. He noted, "You go along any streets you see a lot of young men sleeping on the streets." The nation's potential future doctors, lawyers, and architects have been reduced to homeless drug addicts, risking destabilization of the country.
Estimates indicate that over 1 million people from Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia and Guinea are now addicted to Kush.
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