By Sallieu S. Kanu
June 5, 2026: Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has sounded the alarm over the growing scourge of kush addiction among Sierra Leone’s youth, after engaging directly with addicts living under the Congo Cross Bridge last weekend.
The Mayor described the encounter as “heartbreaking,” noting the glazed eyes, malnourished bodies, and sores on the feet of young men trapped in the grip of the synthetic drug. “A sad reality is that hundreds of kush addicts now live under every major bridge in Freetown and in the back streets of many communities,” she said.
According to the Mayor, the addicts admitted they collect waste to fund their kush habit, only to dump garbage illegally along roadsides and waterways. Despite their dire circumstances, many expressed willingness to enter rehabilitation if given the opportunity. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr pledged to explore pathways for them to access government-run rehab centers.
She also appealed to residents to stop paying addicts to collect garbage, warning that such practices only fuel their drug use. “Freetonians, you are not helping kush victims when you pay them to collect your garbage. They need help to break their addiction, not help to pay for more kush,” she urged, encouraging households to register with FCC-approved waste service providers by calling 8244.
Kush: Sierra Leone’s Silent Epidemic
Kush, a chemically adulterated form of cannabis often laced with formalin, fentanyl, and other toxic substances, has become a national emergency. Its devastating effects include severe physical deterioration, psychosis, and premature death.
Studies show the average kush user is 27 years old, with 84% being male.
Two-thirds of users were employed before addiction but now report unstable income, contributing to rising poverty. Families are torn apart, with 91% of users reporting damaged relationships. Many turn to petty crime to sustain their habit.
School dropout rates are climbing as kush infiltrates classrooms and communities.
President Julius Maada Bio has declared kush a national emergency, citing a 4,000% surge in psychiatric hospital admissions since 2020. The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone has warned that kush abuse undermines human dignity, health, and rights, with thousands of young people dying or ending up in rehabilitation centers.
Rehabilitation Efforts
Government rehabilitation programs have treated several batches of addicts, combining medical care, counseling, and faith-based support. However, reintegration remains a challenge, with limited evaluation of long-term success. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s initiative aims to bridge this gap by connecting addicts directly to rehab centers and discouraging harmful community practices that perpetuate addiction.
Conclusion
The Mayor’s engagement under Congo Cross Bridge underscores the urgency of Sierra Leone’s kush crisis. With thousands of young lives at stake, experts warn that only a coordinated response—combining law enforcement, rehabilitation, youth employment, and public education—can stem the tide of addiction threatening the nation’s future.