Why Aren't These Women Getting Help for Sierra Leone's Kush Drug Crisis?

In the capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown, a massive landfill filled with smoke from years of decaying refuse unexpectedly functions as a trading hub for a harmful drug.

In the midst of swirling ash and the pungent smell of deterioration, youngsters such as Zainab congregate to buy kush, an inexpensive artificial substance causing widespread distress among neighborhoods.

The landfill, emblematic of the city’s challenges with waste disposal, now serves as a somber reminder of an escalating public health emergency.

This strain of cannabis is incredibly habit-forming,” she remarked. “When I don’t partake, I feel unwell.

The dwelling she currently lives in—a small hut made from corrugated iron—houses just an old, worn-out mattress where she meets her customers for work. Her earnings go towards supporting her substance habit.

She is among numerous others. women In Sierra Leone, individuals have been left behind due to social circumstances such as their environment and societal prejudices. Despite these challenges, they haven’t gained from support initiatives since the government announced a public health crisis one year ago because of widespread kush use.

The announcement aimed to implement criminal, public health, and preventive actions to curb the spread in Sierra Leone, as kush extends to other regions. West Africa The medication has been confiscated in Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea.

Public health emergency concerning kushica

Although authorities claim that kush has grown more scarce on the streets of Sierra Leone, critics argue that the initiatives remain underfunded and insufficient.

Even with the introduction of new criminal, public health, and preventive measures, roughly 300 individuals have participated in the nation's formal rehabilitation program, as per the available statistics. The majority of these participants have been male.

Women have been less noticeable during the crisis. Organizations advocating for rights point out that they are typically excluded.

Among women with drug use disorders, only one in 18 receives treatment as opposed to one in seven men, stated the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. According to the agency, women often face higher risks of experiencing gender-based violence, facing economic discrimination, and suffering from human rights abuses.

Fewer women receive help

In Sierra Leone, the scenario remains quite similar. Various advocacy organizations have highlighted that women tend to be less prominent than men when it comes to seeking assistance, and they frequently do not receive sufficient aid. However, according to experts, significantly more men engage with drug use compared to their female counterparts.

Zainab mentioned that five years of using Kush have led to feelings of disgrace and being ostracized. She stated that nobody has assisted her thus far, recounting instances where she became so intoxicated that "I had no idea what was going on around me."

However, she aims to cease working for her children. One evening when she was at work, their house caught fire with both toddlers trapped inside. Though they made it out alive, she handed them over to an orphanage, tormented by memories of the blaze.

"I would cherish hearing my kids call me mum once more," she said, her scarred features lighting up with a grin.

Kush acts as a depressant. Its brief but powerful impact frequently renders users unconscious. Symptoms Ranging from sores to psychosis, the effects of addiction vary widely. Liver , issues with kidneys and respiration frequently occur.

Combating kush is challenging.

The changing makeup, affordability, and easy accessibility of the drug pose significant challenges in combating its spread in Sierra Leone, one of the globe’s least economically developed nations. According to a recent study published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime earlier this year, almost half of the examined kush samples included opioids which can be up to 25 times more potent than fentanyl. Prior to these findings, little was known about what exactly constituted the contents of this substance, complicating attempts at an effective countermeasure, as pointed out by specialists.

Kadiatu Koroma from the local Women for Women Foundation not-for-profit stated that her group has observed an increase in substance abuse amongst women and girls over the past few years.

When they feel extremely sleepy… people might take advantage of them," she stated. After consuming the substance and becoming exposed, the women "get pregnant without knowing who the fathers are.

25 strains of the medication

At Sierra Leone’s Kissy Psychiatric Hospital, medical staff reported identifying 25 distinct variants of the medication across the broader Freetown region.

In one of the two women’s wards, Nurse Kadiatu Dumbuya mentioned that out of all the kush addicts she has treated over her six-year tenure at the hospital, 90% have resorted to selling their bodies to sustain their addiction.

Despite this, out of the 50 individuals—most of whom are kush users—who entered one of Sierra Leone’s two state-operated rehabilitation facilities on a particular day, only three were females.

Since opening in February 2024, only 300 individuals have enrolled in the seven-week course at the Hastings Military Centre, which is protected by armed forces and encircled by barbed wire. Among these participants, merely 40 are female.

Authorities state that the initiative is gender-aware, keeping males and females divided by a barrier. Nonetheless, personnel mentioned that shame and familial pressures cause many women to hide their dependencies and avoid getting assistance.

A mere splash in the vast sea

In many instances, only about 10% of affected girls come to our notice," stated Ansu Konneh from Sierra Leone's Ministry of Social Welfare. "This does not imply that these girls are not addicted; rather, they may experience shyness within their community.

“He mentions it’s just a ripple in the sea.”

Because of financial difficulties, an 'ambassador' initiative involving rehabilitated individuals from the center came to a standstill, leading to a halt in admissions for half a year. Upon resumption, several parents on the extensive 2,000-person waitlist reported that their offspring had passed away during this period.

One of those desperately seeking assistance was Melda Lansana, who mentioned visiting the ministry multiple times to arrange a rehabilitation placement for her 18-year-old daughter, Khadija.

"When I was using it, I couldn't bathe or look after myself," Khadija recalled, reflecting on the respite she found during her stay at the center last August.

Lacking funds for education, she finds it difficult to improve her situation. Because of conflicts at home, she has opted to reside "on the streets" with her partner.

She swears she’s sober. But her mother thinks she might be relapsing.

Funding challenges slow progress

Advancement against kush is sluggish, similar to various regions globally where combating synthetic drugs frequently poses challenges.

Authorities admit that the government has found it challenging to offer financial assistance or job support to aid in reintegrating individuals, especially those who lack formal schooling — a measure supporters believe could be beneficial for women.

The state of emergency declared last year, which received praise from civil groups, has facilitated a transition from punitive measures to supportive ones. However, according to Habib Kamara, who directs the Social Linkages For Youth Development And Child Link—a local non-profit combating substance abuse—the current effort falls short at just "65% of what it needs to be."

This group stands out for providing specialized assistance to women, particularly focusing on marginalized groups such as sex workers. They offer community-led support, complimentary family planning services, and grooming workshops aimed at boosting self-esteem.

"We need to connect with the women wherever they are," Kamara stated.

Marie Kamara, aged 19, turned away from kush and opted instead for Tramadol, despite warnings from specialists about its risks. She found kush too perilous and was deterred by both the smell and weeping wounds among her acquaintances who used it.

Once upon a night, she mentioned that she and her companion Yabu were pursued by a Kush dealer. Marie managed to escape, but Yabu did not.

"They assaulted her ... simply because of the Kush," Marie stated.

A few months afterward, according to Marie, Yabu passed away due to the impact of the substance, marking her loss of a second friend to kush.

Let me not perish as they did," Marie stated. "I pray.

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