By Marilyn King
Planned Parenthood Association Sierra Leone (PPASL) on Wednesday 24th July 2024 organized a workshop on harmful substances and Kush, which was held at the Buxton Hall in Freetown.
The purpose of the workshop, was to educate and empower participants: Community Based Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the public, on harmful substances, with specific focus on Kush.
Speaking at the event, the Monitory and Evaluator Officer, Madam Theresa O. John, said that harmful drugs are very dangerous. She continued that if the government do not take care of the youthful population, they will go bad in the society, and that will be no future leaders. She said that the Kush situation in the country is very alarming. She advised participants that after the workshop they should go to their communities, families, friends to pass on the message, and that they should also do the same when they go to their churches and mosques. “Each one reach one,” she said.
The President of the Youth Action Movement Sierra Leone (YAMSAL), Buyah Nabieu Bangura, said that harmful drugs like Kush affects young people in Sierra Leone, and that if the situation continues, young people that are taking Kush will continue to suffer. He furthered that when you go to different communities, you will see young people standing and in other awkward positions sleeping because of the intake of Kush. Said that some stand in the middle of streets sleeping which can result to being hit by a car or a bike. He noted that Kush is not only taken by males but also females who can be seen with swollen and sore feet, a sight which he described as very scary.
He called on young people present at the workshop to pass on the message to others about the dangers of harmful substances and Kush and that drugs should not be seen as food.
The Director of Programs of PPASL, Tim Kargbo, said that they called the workshop because successful studies have been done to confirm the existence of consumption of drugs and harmful substances. He said that the studies were confirmed by another report.
He said that they want the youths at the workshop to contribute on how to stop the harmful drugs in Sierra Leone. He concluded that they need to work together as a nation to strategize on how to stop intake of harmful drugs in Sierra Leone.
The workshop concluded with questions and answers session, allowing youths to engage with the speakers and deepen their understanding on harmful substances and Kush.
