BY ADAMA CONTEH
232NEWS, FREETOWN
One of Sierra Leone finest Youth Advocate, Kadijatu Barrie, during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education weekly press conference expressed concern over the rapid increase of the consumption of Kush among the youth.
Speaking on the topic “Status of Kush and corresponding consequences”, she informed newsmen that the use of Kush has risen exponentially over the past two years and that it is now used openly in every community in and out of Freetown.
“Sierra Leone’s young people are now slowly handled by Kush. From the slums, to well hilled areas, you will hear the stories and see the addicts sitting in comatose positions and sometimes slumbering on their feet.” Kadijatu said.
Kadijatu went on to say that the rate at which Kush is damaging young people is alarming, adding that in a recent visit to Dove Cot market in central business district of Freetown, she was shocked when she saw a lot of youth smoking Kush openly, and was dismayed that law enforcement officers have failed to stem the spread of the dangerous drug because they are also users.
“I can still recall in May this year, when I went to Dove Cot Market at about 5 to 6am and what I saw. Young ladies and men sleeping around, whilst majority were drowsy men holding something that was in-between falling down and standing. I was so terrified of the situation that I told my friend that I’m scared,” she said.
Kadijatu maintained that from her own findings, 60 percent of people that are admitted at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital are young addicts that were brought in by their families or friends, who are desperate for help.
“When you visit the psychiatric hospital, you see dozens of Kush patients, mostly male youth who got into drugs largely through the influence of peer groups” she opined.
She appealed for stronger controls, highlighting the role of family or the environment in pushing young people into drug addiction and emphasizing that the legal system has a role to play in combating the menace.
She said that the future lies in the hands of young people, and she was happy that young people were now waking up to the threat and starting to advocate among their peers about the dangers associated with Kush.
She further expressed concerned about the SDGs goal 3 and 16, which she said cannot be achieved with what is rampant in their nation now, and she think that they should take deep thoughts to these questions and issues.
