October 22nd, 2025
DRUG ABUSE CRISIS IN SIERRA LEONE: IT’S IMPACT ON YOUTH, HEALTH, AND THE FUTURE
PART 1
AN URGENT EXPOSÉ ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE, WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE GRIP OF A NATIONAL NIGHTMARE
This first part of our Press Statements on the Drugs Crisis in our beloved nation focuses on the public health emergency ravaging our youth: the drug abuse crisis that has torn through communities, destroyed lives, and stolen futures. From the spread of synthetic poisons like Kush to the soaring use of tramadol, cocaine, and other opioids, the evidence is clear-Sierra Leone is at war with addiction. And the frontlines are occupied by our youngest, most vulnerable citizens.
SLAM-Global documents the cognitive, physiological, and developmental devastation inflicted on adolescents, unborn children, and pregnant mothers. We present mortality data, addiction projections, and medical warnings from Sierra Leonean doctors and global health authorities alike. The facts are undeniable. If this crisis is not addressed with urgency, the next decade will bring tens of thousands of preventable deaths and a lost generation.
But this is more than a health crisis. It is the first symptom of something deeper: a system rotting from within. As we lay out the human toll in Part 1, we also prepare the ground for Part 2-an unflinching investigation into how drug trafficking and state corruption under Mr. Julius Maada Bio have enabled and exacerbated this disaster.
Part 2 will expose the power networks, enablers, and international crime syndicates that embedded themselves in the heart of the Sierra Leonean state.
If Part 1 shows us the fire, Part 2 reveals the arsonists.
Together, both parts demand one thing: truth, accountability, and national rescue.
Sierra Leone is grappling with a fast-escalating drug abuse epidemic centered on children and the youth. Cheap, addictive substances – from pharmaceutical opioids like tramadol to illicit concoctions like “Kush” – are widely available, leading to surging addiction rates, health emergencies, and even a spike in deaths. In April 2024, Mr. Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency over drug abuse (particularly Kush) due to its “destructive consequences” on young people. This section presents key data and projections on the crisis, covering mortality, biological impacts (including on pregnant women and fetuses), and the specific effects of tramadol, kush, cocaine, and other drugs in Sierra Leone.
SLAM-GLOBAL presents this report on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone-those who suffer, those who resist, and those who refuse to be silenced. Let it be known: we will not rest until justice is served and our nation is free from the grip of narco- corruption.
Drug-Related Deaths: Current Toll and Projections – Drug abuse is already claiming lives in Sierra Leone, and without intervention the toll could worsen dramatically. Kush, a synthetic drug mixture that emerged around 2019, has been especially deadly:
” Kush Fatalities: The Bio adminiustration reports “hundreds of deaths” caused by Kush since it appeared ~4 years ago. Regionally, this drug has killed “likely thousands” across West Africa in just the past few years, with Sierra Leone as the epicenter. Mortuaries in Freetown have been overwhelmed by Kush fatalities, forcing mass cremations and even bodies being abandoned – a grim indicator of the crisis’ scale.
” Rapid Rise in Overdoses: The highly toxic contents of Kush (mixing ultra-potent synthetic opioids with chemicals) put users at extreme risk. Tiny doses can be lethal – some of its opioid ingredients (nitazenes) are up to 25× more potent than fentanyl (and fentanyl itself is ~50× stronger than heroin). This potency has led to frequent overdoses among inexperienced youth. Doctors report that many young Kush users suffer multiple organ failure and other severe complications before succumbing.
” Projected Deaths if Unchecked: If current trends persist, drug-related deaths are poised to rise sharply. The UNODC projects that the number of drug users in Africa will jump ~40% by 2030 under business-as-usual scenarios – far outpacing population growth. More users inevitably mean more fatalities, especially with the spread of synthetic opioids. Sierra Leone could see a proportional surge in overdose deaths. For example, if hundreds have died in the last four years from Kush alone, thousands more could die in the coming decade from Kush and other drugs combined, unless aggressive action is taken. (While exact local projections are difficult due to data gaps, the trajectory is clearly upward unless the epidemic is curtailed).
” Global Context: The drug crisis is not only local – it reflects a broader global trend. Worldwide, 296 million people used illicit drugs in 2021, a 23% increase over the past decade. Drug use disorders (addictions) climbed even faster, up 45% in ten years to 39.5 million people. With Africa accounting for a large share of this growth, international bodies warn that without intervention, preventable drug- related deaths will continue climbing year over year.
Impact on Youth: Cognitive and Physiological Damage – Young people are the primary victims of Sierra Leone’s drug wave, and the consequences for their health and development are dire. Adolescents and young adults (teens and 20s) are most drawn to these drugs – and at these ages the brain and body are still developing, making them especially vulnerable to lasting harm.
” Soaring Youth Addiction Rates: Hospital and rehab data show an explosion of youth drug cases in recent years. For example, psychiatric hospital admissions linked to Kush surged by ~4,000% (a 40-fold increase) from 2020 to 2023. Virtually all patients in one Freetown rehab in 2023 were youth addicted to Kush. These numbers reflect an unprecedented spike in drug use among Sierra Leone’s young population. (By contrast, past surveys suggested relatively low youth drug use – one study found only ~4% of Sierra Leonean adolescents had ever used any substance, the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa. The recent surge in cheap drugs has likely pushed current usage far above that figure.) In certain groups of young people, drug use has become near-ubiquitous: a 2023 study in Kambia District found 86.7% of commercial motorbike riders (mostly young men) were using some substance regularly. This highlights how deeply the epidemic has penetrated youth culture.
” Brain Development and Cognitive Impairment: Introducing drugs to an undeveloped brain can cause lasting damage. The human brain continues maturing until the mid-20s; substance abuse during this critical period disrupts normal development of neural circuits. Research confirms that early drug use can alter brain maturation and lead to lasting cognitive impairment in functions like memory, attention, and decision-making. In Sierra Leone, many teens on Kush or tramadol exhibit cognitive and behavioral issues – inability to focus, learning difficulties, and in some cases drug-induced psychosis. The “Kush devil” on the streets has left youth “destroying young African lives”, often rendering once- promising students into individuals who drop out of school and struggle with basic mental tasks. Mental health professionals note rising cases of drug-induced schizophrenia-like symptoms and severe depression among these youths.
” Physiological Harm to Youth: Beyond the brain, young bodies suffer widespread injury from chronic drug use. Common findings in Sierra Leone’s young drug users include malnutrition and organ damage. Medical officials report Kush addicts with swollen limbs, liver and kidney damage, and even heart failure in their twenties. Stimulant drugs (like cocaine or meth) can trigger high blood pressure,
arrhythmias, and strokes in young hearts. Opioids like tramadol depress respiration – risking coma or death – and can cause seizures (tramadol lowers the seizure threshold) in otherwise healthy youth. There’s also a surge in risk-taking behaviors: substance-affected youth are more prone to accidents, violence, and unsafe sex. Indeed, studies in Africa link youth substance use to higher rates of injuries, assaults, and STIs due to impaired judgment. All these factors mean that drug abuse is shortening the lifespan and potential of Sierra Leone’s next generation.
” “Unintended” Addictions: Many young people did not set out to become addicts
– their dependency often began inadvertently. Tramadol, for instance, is a painkiller that youth might take for a toothache or to boost energy for work, not realizing its addictive power. Likewise, unemployed teenagers seeking an escape from hopelessness try a cheap Kush joint “just to feel good,” only to find themselves hooked. Social workers note that poverty and trauma drive many into drug use as “a means to numb their awareness of socio-economic challenges”. What starts as casual or self-medication use quickly turns into addiction due to these drugs’ potency. The result is a generation of youth caught in a cycle of dependency, often before they even realize what has happened. This loss of human capital – bright young minds and bodies wasted – is incalculable in its long-term impact on the country.
(Note: Polydrug use – mixing substances – further amplifies risks for young users. Many Sierra Leonean youths take cocktails of drugs (e.g. tramadol plus alcohol or benzodiazepines) that exponentially increase overdose danger and cognitive impairment. Such combinations are extremely dangerous depressants, frequently leading to respiratory failure).
Pregnant Women, Fetuses, and Neonatal Impact: Drug abuse among pregnant women is a particularly alarming facet of the crisis, as it harms two lives – the mother and her unborn child. While data specific to Sierra Leone is scarce, global and African studies provide insight into the potential scope and gravity:
” Prevalence of Use in Pregnancy: Surveys worldwide indicate that a significant minority of pregnant women use illicit substances. For example, even in the U.S. about 5% of pregnant women (1 in 20) report current illicit drug use, and rates are higher among teenagers (up to ~21% in pregnant teens). In contexts of high drug availability like West Africa, it’s feared that many expecting mothers may be using substances such as cannabis, tramadol (perhaps as a painkiller), or even kush, due to lack of awareness or addiction. Any such use poses serious risks to the pregnancy.
” Maternal Health Dangers: Substance use increases the risk of complications for the mother. These include miscarriage (loss of the pregnancy), preterm labor, and dangerous conditions like placental abruption (especially with stimulants like cocaine). Pregnant women with opioid addiction (e.g. tramadol or heroin) are at high risk of poor nutrition, anemia, blood infections, and even maternal mortality if an overdose or medical crisis occurs without prompt care. According to the WHO, overdose and suicide are now leading causes of maternal death in some regions during the postpartum period, underscoring how substance use disorders can be fatal for mothers.
” Fetal and Newborn Harm: Drugs easily cross the placenta, directly affecting the developing fetus. The biological implications for the fetus can be devastating:
” Stillbirth & Birth Defects: Using illicit drugs while pregnant markedly increases the risk of stillbirth (baby born dead) and can cause congenital defects in the infant. For instance, cocaine use can constrict blood flow in the placenta, leading to fetal strokes or organ malformations; heavy alcohol or sedative use causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or deformities.
” Preterm and Low Birth Weight: Drug-using mothers often deliver babies prematurely. Illicit drugs interfere with normal fetal growth, so babies are frequently born underweight and frail, requiring intensive medical support. These infants face breathing problems and underdeveloped organs due to early birth.
o Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS): Perhaps most concerning, babies can be born addicted. Opioids like tramadol or heroin, as well as other drugs, can create physical dependence in the fetus. After birth, with the drug supply cut off, the newborn goes into withdrawal – a condition known as NAS. Symptoms include incessant crying, tremors, fever, diarrhea, and seizures in the baby. Hospitals in opioid-affected regions have seen NAS cases skyrocket – increasing fivefold in one decade during the opioid epidemic. In Sierra Leone, where healthcare resources are limited, an influx of NAS babies would be a huge challenge. These infants often need specialized neonatal ICU care and medications to wean them off drugs.
o Long-Term Developmental Problems: Prenatal drug exposure can have lasting cognitive and behavioral effects as the child grows. Studies have found higher rates of developmental delays, learning disabilities, ADHD, and behavioral disorders in children born to mothers who used substances during pregnancy. For example, fetal exposure to opioids or cocaine is linked to lower IQ and executive function issues in childhood, while exposure to marijuana is associated with attention and behavior problems in school years. In essence, the damage from drug use in pregnancy can extend into the child’s teenage years and beyond, affecting their academic performance and social outcomes.
Powerful Data Point: Illicit drug use during pregnancy has such severe consequences that it is entirely preventable. Health agencies emphasize that if a baby is not exposed
to drugs in utero, outcomes like NAS, stillbirth, and certain birth defects are 100% preventable. This underscores the importance of targeted interventions (education, addiction treatment) for pregnant women in Sierra Leone to protect the next generation from neurological and physical harm before birth.
Major Drugs of Abuse and Their Effects: A variety of substances are fueling Sierra Leone’s addiction crisis. Below is a breakdown of the key drugs – Tramadol, “Kush”, Cocaine (and other stimulants), and emerging synthetic drugs – along with their specific impacts and statistics:
” Tramadol (and Other Opioid Pills): Tramadol is a prescription opioid painkiller that has become a widely abused drug in West Africa. It is cheap and often available without strict controls, making it a popular high and stimulant (in moderate doses) for laborers and youth. Over 90% of the world’s tramadol seizures in recent years occurred in Africa (mostly West Africa) – indicating the epicenter of illicit tramadol use is this region. Sierra Leone is no exception: by 2019 it had one of the highest tramadol addiction treatment rates in West Africa (?3 people per 100,000 were entering rehab for tramadol use disorders – among the top in the region alongside Liberia). Impact: Tramadol abuse causes lethargy, respiratory depression, and can provoke seizures at high doses. Users quickly develop tolerance, leading some to escalate intake to dangerous levels or mix tramadol with other substances (like the toxic cocktail “Khadafi” – tramadol plus energy drinks – which became so widespread in Côte d’Ivoire that it was banned in 2023). Tramadol’s addictive grip often ensnares users into physical dependence; withdrawal causes intense flu-like symptoms, anxiety, and pain. Alarmingly, experts warn that if tramadol supplies are curbed without providing treatment, users may turn to even stronger opioids. The risk of fentanyl analogues (extremely potent opioids) infiltrating the market is real, which could drive overdose deaths much higher. Thus, tramadol stands as both a current public health threat and a potential gateway to an even deadlier opioid crisis.
” “Kush” (Synthetic Cannabinoid/Opioid Mixture): Kush is a new and devastating drug that first appeared in Sierra Leone around 2019 and has since spread to neighboring countries. Despite the nickname, it is not simply cannabis – it’s actually a toxic mix of chemicals. Recent analyses show kush in Sierra Leone is laced with synthetic cannabinoids (lab-made THC analogues similar to “Spice” or “Black Mamba”) and nitazene opioids (novel opioids far stronger than heroin). In fact, 87% of tested kush samples in Sierra Leone contained nitazenes. These ingredients make kush extremely potent and deadly: users can get high from a tiny amount, but also easily overdose.
Impact: Kush has caused an unprecedented public health disaster among Sierra Leone’s youth. It is dirt cheap (a single joint for the price of a soft drink) and thus accessible to the poorest and even schoolchildren. Once hooked, users often smoke it multiple times a day. The effects are grotesque – doctors describe kush users in Freetown entering a “zombie- like” state, with episodes of violent paranoia or catatonia. The drug triggers severe psychiatric illness; the country’s only psychiatric hospital has been flooded with kush- induced psychosis cases. Physical health is ravaged as well: prolonged use leads to organ damage (liver, kidneys), immune system suppression, and wasting of the body. The death toll from kush is staggering: likely hundreds of young Sierra Leoneans have died from it, and thousands across West Africa. Bodies of overdose victims have literally piled up, prompting state mortuaries to perform emergency burials. The government’s crackdown – raids on drug dens and public burnings of seized Kush – has so far struggled to contain the spread, given the drug’s ease of manufacture and the desperate demand among addicted youth. In short, kush represents a national nightmare, undermining the health, sanity, and future of Sierra Leone’s young generation at an alarming rate.
” Cocaine (and Other Stimulants): West Africa has long been a transit corridor for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe, and now some of that cocaine is finding its way into local consumption. While cocaine use in Sierra Leone was historically low, recent indicators suggest it’s rising. Drug treatment centers have reported increases in admissions for cocaine use disorders in Sierra Leone and some other African countries. Impact: Cocaine (typically snorted as powder or smoked as “crack” rocks) is a powerful stimulant that gives a burst of euphoria, confidence, and energy – but at the cost of severe health risks. It acutely raises heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes causing heart attacks or strokes even in young users. Chronic use leads to anxiety, paranoia, and aggression. Crack cocaine is highly addictive; users can binge on it, forgoing food and sleep, which leads to malnutrition and risky behaviors.
In Sierra Leone’s capital, there are reports of pockets of youth engaging in cocaine use (often alongside kush or pills), especially among more affluent circles or returnees, which is a worrying trend. Moreover, methamphetamine – another stimulant – has been detected in parts of West Africa. Crystal meth and amphetamine pills (sometimes marketed as “speed” or “ecstasy”) are not yet as common as other drugs, but if introduced, they could create a new wave of addiction. Meth is infamous for causing irreversible neurological damage (memory loss, cognitive decline) and physical decay (tooth loss, skin sores). Even small-scale presence of meth in Sierra Leone could have outsized impacts, as seen in South Africa and Nigeria where meth abuse led to spikes in violent crime and health emergencies.
In summary, stimulant drugs like cocaine and meth pose an emerging threat
– they can quickly hook users and inflict both cardiovascular and mental health disasters, compounding the existing opioid/cannabis problem.
” Other Substances (Cannabis, Codeine, “Brown-Brown”, etc.): Traditional plant-based drugs also play a role, though often overshadowed by the newer synthetics. Cannabis (marijuana) remains widely used – in fact, marijuana has historically been the most common illicit drug in Sierra Leone. While cannabis use alone is not new, today’s high-THC strains and concentrates can contribute to mental health issues (like triggering schizophrenia in vulnerable youth) and drop in academic performance. Many kush users started as cannabis smokers before transitioning to the “stronger” kush. Codeine cough syrups are another abused substance: youth sometimes chug bottles of cough medicine (“Tedi” or other brands) for a sedative high. This can lead to codeine opioid addiction and has been a known issue in Nigeria and Ghana, now creeping into Sierra Leone. Additionally, during the civil war era, fighters in Sierra Leone famously used a mixture called “brown-brown” (cocaine mixed with gunpowder); while that specific wartime drug is not mainstream today, it underlines that polydrug mixtures have been part of the local drug scene. In the current crisis, we see analogous concoctions – from laced cannabis to homemade brews spiked with pharmaceuticals. For instance, across Africa there’s “Monkey Tail” (a Nigerian concoction of cannabis soaked in local gin) and “Nyaope” in South Africa (heroin mixed with various toxins). Sierra Leone’s battle is mainly with tramadol and kush, but these examples show the innovative poly-drug culture that can spread. Any readily available substance that can alter consciousness – be it inhalants (glue, fuel), prescription sedatives, or locally brewed alcohol – can become part of the youth drug problem if not addressed. Each comes with its own health risks (for example, inhalant sniffing can cause sudden cardiac death or brain damage).
The key point: the drug problem is rapidly diversifying – no longer just imported cocaine or local cannabis, but a whole spectrum of manufactured pills and mixtures. This makes the crisis harder to combat, as youth might switch substances if one becomes scarce.
Statistics & Data for Quick Impact: To emphasize the urgency and scale of Sierra Leone’s drug crisis, the following key statistics have been extracted from the latest medical, institutional, and global reports. These figures are not mere numbers-they are warning sirens echoing across a collapsing system.
Each data point represents shattered futures, overwhelmed hospitals, grieving families, and an abandoned generation. These truths must be seen, felt, and acted upon.
” 4,000% – the surge in psychiatric hospital admissions for kush-related cases in Sierra Leone between 2020 and 2023. (This staggering 40-fold increase reflects an epidemic explosion in a short time).
” “Hundreds of deaths” – attributed to kush in Sierra Leone in the past four years, with thousands more likely across West Africa. (Young lives are being lost in shocking numbers).
” 87% – proportion of tested kush samples in Sierra Leone that contained nitazene opioids (up to 25× more potent than fentanyl). (Illustrates how deadly the drug’s makeup is).
” 90%+ – share of global tramadol seizures that occur in Africa, highlighting West Africa (including Sierra Leone) as the epicenter of illicit tramadol trafficking and abuse.
” 30% – estimated prevalence of tramadol use among West African drug users, per meta-analysis. Tramadol has become as commonly used as cannabis (6%) or more so, a drastic change in the drug landscape.
” 3 per 100,000 – Sierra Leone’s rate of people seeking treatment for tramadol addiction in 2019, one of the highest in the region. (By comparison, many countries reported near 0 before the tramadol wave).
” 40% by 2030 – projected increase in the number of drug users in Africa if current trends continue. (This foreshadows a huge future burden of addiction and suggests a looming wave of overdose deaths if nothing changes).
” 5× Increase in NAS – The rise in newborns suffering Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome over a decade in the 2000s U.S. opioid crisis. Africa could face similar trends with the spread of opioid and tramadol misuse among pregnant women, meaning more babies enduring opioid withdrawal at birth.
” 100 times more potent – The strength of some nitazene opioids in kush relative to heroin. This potency explains the “alarming mortality” and collapse of young people noted by the President.
” 60% youth unemployment – in Sierra Leone, one of the driving forces behind the drug crisis (idle, despairing youth are turning to cheap drugs). This socio- economic stat is crucial, as any solution must address the root causes like joblessness and hopelessness among youth.
(Each of these data points is backed by sources and can be used to create an engaging, fact-driven narrative in the dossier. They are meant to make people sit up and take notice of the severity of the problem).
Conclusion: This is not just a crisis-it is a generational collapse unfolding in real time. Sierra Leone’s streets, schools, homes, and hospitals are flooded with the broken bodies and haunted minds of our young people. What began as isolated drug use has become a systemic catastrophe, with Kush, Tramadol, and other synthetic poisons ravaging the future of our nation.
These are not just statistics. They are sons and daughters. They are unborn children lost in the womb. They are young mothers burying their babies. They are teenagers who once dreamed of being doctors, teachers, and leaders-now reduced to shells of themselves, wandering aimlessly in chemical fog.
And yet-this was never inevitable.
This crisis was allowed to fester, worsen, and metastasize through years of silence, denial, and institutional negligence. While leaders hosted summits and recited speeches about national progress, an entire generation was falling through the cracks-abandoned to addiction, illness, and death.
We at SLAM-GLOBAL will not stay silent. We will not normalize the annihilation of our youth. We will not allow those who enabled this disaster to escape accountability.
This is the end of innocence-but not the end of the story.
In Part 2, we will expose the machinery behind this tragedy: the traffickers in high office, the diplomatic passports handed to drug lords, the foreign criminal syndicates protected by state power, and the criminal betrayal of public trust by those sworn to protect our people.
To every citizen, activist, journalist, and policymaker-we say: read Part 2. Share it. Demand justice. This is not just about drugs. This is about the survival of Sierra Leone.
SLAM-GLOBAL stands with the people. Not the powerful. Let the truth speak. Let justice follow. Let healing begin.
References for Drug & Health Impact Dossier (2018-2025)
1. UNODC (2023). World Drug Report 2023. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2023.html
2. Reuters (April 5, 2024). Sierra Leone declares national emergency on drug abuse.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sierra-leone-declares-national-emergency- drug-abuse-2024-04-05/
3. AP News (May 2024). Synthetic opioids and cannabinoids driving kush fatalities in West Africa. https://apnews.com/article/5dedc2de0d4ca4fbd24f86b158cbe018
4. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (2023). Kush: The lethal synthetic taking over West Africa. https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/kush- west-africa/
5. The Guardian (Feb 14, 2025). ‘They’re dying in the street’: Sierra Leone’s kush epidemic turns deadly. https://www.theguardian.com/global- development/2025/feb/14/sierra-leone-kush-drug-epidemic
6. Lancet Psychiatry (2022). Adolescent brain development and substance use vulnerability. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215- 0366(22)00123-0/fulltext
7. BMC Psychiatry (2022). S. Musa et al. Substance use among youth in Sierra Leone: Evidence from Kambia district. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-022-04482-4
8. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
Prevalence of tramadol use and associated factors in West Africa: A meta-analysis.
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2031
9. UNODC & African Union (2019). Treatment demand and tramadol addiction in West Africa: Regional overview. https://www.unodc.org/documents/westandcentralafrica//Tramadol-brief-WA- 2019.pdf
10. WHO (2022). Opioid exposure during pregnancy and maternal/fetal risks. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240068719
11. CDC (USA). Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Trends and Public Health Implications. https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/opioids/born-addicted.html
12. The Conversation (2023). Why Tramadol and kush are driving drug-related psychosis in West Africa. https://theconversation.com/tramadol-kush-psychosis- west-africa-198761
13. Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (2023). National Drug Abuse Trends Briefing Report.
14. Africa Confidential (Jan 2025). Narco-state fears grow as kush deaths mount in Freetown. https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/13768
15. VOA News (2025). Sierra Leone’s drug crisis sparks call for foreign aid. https://www.voanews.com/a/sierra-leone-drug-crisis/7951251.html
16. Sarah Kallay Blog (2025). Drug crisis and state silence: Sierra Leone’s breaking point. https://www.sarahkallay.com/post/sierra-leone-kush-epidemic
17. New Lines Magazine (2024). Inside Sierra Leone’s collapsing rehab clinics. https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/kush-crisis-sierra-leone
18. Africa CDC & WAHO (2024). Public Health Burden of Substance Abuse in West Africa. https://africacdc.org/download/waho-substance-use-burden-report-2024/
19. U.S. State Department INCSR Report (2024-2025). West Africa: Transit hub for cocaine and opioid flows. https://www.state.gov/international-narcotics-control- strategy-reports/
P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2025, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. Find it here: link.
Signed By:
Dr. Alfred A. Veenod Fullah
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
CC:
” State Dept Press Operations
” Office of Press Operations, U.S. State Department
” Office of the Chairman, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
” Office of the President of Sierra Leone
” Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone
” Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
” Office of the Chief Minister of the Government of Sierra Leone
” Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)
” Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police
” Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
” Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
” Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion
” Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
” African Union (AU)
” Amnesty International
” Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State
” Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
” The Commonwealth Secretary-General
” Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
” Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
” Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
” The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
” H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
” Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
” H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
” H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
” H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
” H.E Adama Barro, President of The Gambia
” H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
” H.E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
” H.E Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast
” H.E Jean-Lucien Savi de Tove, President of the Togolese Republic
” David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
” Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
” Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
” Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
” Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
” H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
” H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
” Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
” Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
” Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
” Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
” Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
” Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
” National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
” Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
” Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
” Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
” Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
” Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
” Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
” Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
” Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
” Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
” Children’s Forum Network
” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
” Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
” Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
” Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
” The New York Times
” The Washington Post
” The USA Today
” The Cable News Network (CNN)
” The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC)
” The Fox News
” The Associated Press
” Thomson Reuters
” The National Public Radio (NPR)
” The Brookings Institution
” The Heritage Foundation
” The Center For American Progress
” The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
” The MoveOn
” The Democratic National Committee
” The Republican National Committee
” The EMILY’s List
” The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
” The Sky News
” Al Jazeera
” The Independent Television (ITV)
” The Times
” The Financial Times
” The Guardian
” The Daily Telegraph