Sierra Leone declares drug abuse to be a national epidemic
Sierra Leone has declared a state of national emergency after an increase in drug abuse cases. President Julius Maada Bio's order follows the increase in the use of synthetic drugs known as Kush.
The highly addictive narcotic drug is a combination of cannabis, tentanyl and tramadol, which is a strong pain reliever. It has been reported that Kush has caused hundreds of deaths and made many users mentally ill.
The drug appeared for the first time in the West African country four years ago. Kush is also widely used in the neighboring country of Liberia.
President Bio has said through the order he issued that a task force will be created to implement a multi-faceted strategy to deal with the use of drugs.
Medical staff in Sierra Leone have welcomed the order issued by President Bio.
As a country wracked by a long civil war that ended in 2002, and a deadly Ebola outbreak eight years ago, Sierra Leone, which is rich in diamond minerals, has struggled to grow its economy and youth unemployment is still high. high level.../
