By Janet A. Sesay
In their unwavering commitment to support vulnerable youths cross the country, Advocacy for Youth Mental Health and Empowerment, has engaged hundreds of youths at Magazine and Susan’s Bay communities on substance abuse and mental health issues.
The engagement which geared towards sensitizing the youths about the negative effect of substance abuse, such as kush, tramadol and hosts of others inimical drugs, took place on Saturday 14th June 2025 at the Mabala Playing Field in Freetown under the project “Fighting Against Kush and Substance abuse in Sierra Leone”.
Advocacy for Youth Mental Health and Empowerment is renowned organisation, fighting to restore the mental health status of youths, who are into harmful drugs, as well as creating opportunities for them.
In his opening remarks, Mohamed Bangura, Chairman of the Community, welcomed and thanked the organisation for their brilliant initiative in addressing substance abuse. He established the visibility of substance abuse in the two communities.
Chairman Bangura underscored that the intake of kush has gone down a little in his community, but stressed on the consumption of tramadol which he maintained is the new cankerworm now destroying the children.
“Children as young as 7 and 8 years are now taking tramadol.” Therefore, such engagement is necessary for parents as well as their children to know about the effect of such drug,” he stated.
While delving into the significance of the project, “Fighting Against Kush and Substance Abuse in Sierra Leone,” Madam Esther Finda Sesay, the Project Consultant, pinpointed that it’s targeting ages between 10 to 25 years, a critical stage in the development of human being, who are in this case are victims of drug.
She appealed to parents to have a keen watch over their children, as drug abuse has a great tendency to destroy their future. “We’re here to help you address this situation that is affecting our youths of this nation,” she clarified.
On behalf of the Sierra Leone Police, Alie Bangura expressed his satisfaction about the engagement in the communities aimed at reshaping the minds of youth with regards to substance abuse.
As a Force, he pointed out that they don’t want to see anything negative affecting the lives of the citizens they are obliged under the National Constitution to protect and safeguard. “It is because of this that as a Force, we are very much concerned about how kush and other drugs are ravaging the lives of youths in the country.
“Our primary responsibility is to protect life and property and we will play our role in addressing the issue of substance abuse,” he assured.
Mohamed Kamara, from the Youth Commission urged the youths and victims to take the message seriously, as it’s the only way they can deviate from such a bad habit. “As young people drug is not good for us and therefore, we must stay away from it,” he admonished.
Explaining the background of the organisation, Madam Marian Nicholas, a member of the Advocacy for Youth Mental Health and Empowerment, said they came together as an organisation to help address the effects of drugs on young people and at the same time contributing to nation building.
She encouraged the youths not to lose hope, as they will do their best in terms of messaging in trying to restore their mental health and give them a meaningful life again.
The Chairman of the occasion, Saidu Bah described the youths as present leaders, charged with the responsibility to contribute significantly to the development of Sierra Leone.
He said drug abuse is affecting every household in the two communities and as a result of such consequences, the government must pay keen attention to those who are coming with the substance, as means of addressing the root cause of drug. “After this engagement today, I challenge you that 90% of you will be become persons,” he stated.
Dr. Lassana Lemon, a Board member, disclosed that mental health issue is a serious concern that cut across the country, devoid of age and status.
He went ahead to explain the effect of ordinary Paracetamol if one overdoses him or herself with it, not alone a harmful substance. “You’re not doing good to yourselves and as a medical practitioner, my advice for you is that you desist from substance abuse,” he cautioned them.
He called on the community stakeholders to take responsibility, in addressing the situation noting that the effect of substance abuse will affect them directly or indirectly, therefore, he stressed that effective collective effort in salvaging the situation.
One of the victims, Mohamed Kamara, was very excited about the engagement noting, “the message is a very timely one; and based on what I have been told here today, I will work on myself to abstain from drug abuse so I can become a better person in society.”
Other seasoned medical practitioners, also explained about the effect of drugs and called on the youths to stay away from such and live a meaningful life. The engagement was climaxed with a question and answer session.