By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone — The Ministry of Information and Civic Education held its weekly press briefing on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, unveiling a multi-sectoral push against drug abuse, particularly the synthetic drug Kush, and highlighting strides in mental health, security, and community engagement.
Brigadier Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency and head of the National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, revealed that over 6,000 patients have been treated at Kissy Psychiatric Hospital since the Task Force’s inception, with more than 2,300 cases linked to drug abuse.
Key achievements include: Establishment of three rehabilitation centers in Hastings, Gondama, and Daru, with a fourth underway in Bombali; rehabilitation and reintegration of over 4,000 individuals as community ambassadors; training of 1,400 health workers and 1,000 youth peer educators; more than 30 community dialogues facilitated by local authorities; and the Ministry of Information has amplified prevention efforts through media campaigns, jingles, and public outreach. Citizens are urged to report drug-related incidents via toll-free lines: 117 for drug activity and 900 for bodies found in public spaces.
Andrew Jaiah KaiKai, head of the newly formed Special Security Unit, confirmed its official launch on November 1, 2025. The Unit comprises over 200 personnel from the military, police, and NDLA.
Between October 25 and November 3, the Unit
Visited more than 90 communities across Freetown;
made 46 arrests (28 men and 18 women); and seized over 3,000 wraps of Kush, 63 wraps of hash, and large quantities of tramadol.
Alfred Moi Jamiru, Community Engagement Pillar Lead, emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement. Drawing on lessons from Ebola and COVID-19, awareness campaigns have been rolled out in Waterloo, Hamilton, Wilberforce, Murray Town, and provincial districts. Local councils are leading efforts to build community resilience against drug abuse.
Mental Health Task Force Pushes for Holistic Addiction Response
Dr. Carol Labor, Senior Adviser at the National Public Health Agency’s Mental Health Secretariat, highlighted the work of the Presidential Task Force on Mental Health, launched in April 2023. Over 1,090 individuals have been trained to identify symptoms of mental and neurological conditions.
Dr. Labor stressed that addiction is a mental health issue requiring a comprehensive societal response, including early intervention, community support, and destigmatization.