Kush Takes Hold of Youth in West Africa’s Mano River Basin – Analysis

Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea must work together to free their youth from this deadly synthetic cannabis.

By Feyi Ogunade

Kush is spreading across the Mano River Basin in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, entrapping youth and straining social services. A united front from these three governments is needed to prevent this transnational drug crisis from disrupting the fragile stability of the region.

The deadly synthetic cannabis originates from Sierra Leone and is produced and distributed by criminal gangs in the region. It contains chemicals and plants that mimic the natural cannabinoid THC in cannabis, says Hassan Fadiga, the deputy director general for operations for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency. Additives include acetone, the opioids tramadol and fentanyl, paint, disinfectants and formaldehyde – a toxic chemical. Some reports say Kush contains ground-up human bones.

Dr Valerie Coker from Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in Sierra Leone, who treats pregnant women addicted to Kush, says the drug has a THC content significantly higher than that of organic cannabis. It produces a powerful psychoactive effect that can quickly lead to addiction.

A single joint of kush costs about US$0.25 and is typically shared between two or three people, according to Aiah Nabieu Mokuwah, director of Sierra Leone’s Institute for Drug Control and Human Security. Dozens of joints can be smoked each day, highlighting the addictive nature and cost of the substance in a country where the average monthly salary is less than US$100.

The introduction of Kush coincides with a worrying rise in drug use among young people

Consumed primarily by young adults, Kush causes disorientation, causing users to fall asleep standing up, stumble and fall, or walk into traffic. It produces a long-lasting, hypnotic euphoria, causing users to lose touch with reality for hours.

Abraham Kromah, former head of Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency, says the drug is produced locally from ingredients sourced from within the region and beyond. Fentanyl, for example, is produced in secret labs in China and shipped to West Africa. Formaldehyde is smuggled into Liberia by smugglers from Sierra Leone and Nigeria or obtained illegally from local hospitals, where it is used to preserve bodies in morgues.

Once Kush is produced, it is smuggled across porous borders in all directions, mainly by criminal networks from Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and sometimes on small fishing boats operated by Ghanaians.

The introduction of Kush coincides with a worrying rise in drug use among young people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Kromah estimates that more than 1.5 million young people in Liberia are addicted to Kush. Fadiga says families in the country are under attack, as addiction infiltrates households and damages relationships and community dynamics.

Sierra Leone and Liberia have declared a public health emergency over drug abuse linked to Kush

The drug is turning Liberia into a “zombie society,” said Lawrence Yealue, country director of Liberia’s Accountability Lab, a nonprofit organization. He said health systems in the Mano River Basin are facing increased demand for treatment for drug-related problems. Drug abuse and trafficking are also driving up crime, decreasing productivity and straining social services.

The Kush trade threatens to undermine peace and development in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. After brutal conflicts in the late 1990s that left over 200,000 dead and widespread destruction, these countries continue to grapple with severe humanitarian crises that have had a profound impact on their social and economic structures.

The roots of the Kush problem run deep and are intertwined with the region’s social and economic challenges. Alfred Mansaray, deputy director of Sierra Leone’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, says youth unemployment, particularly in urban areas, creates fertile ground for the escape that drugs provide. Weak education systems and inadequate access to mental health services exacerbate youth vulnerability.

Countries in the Mano River Basin have launched several interventions to tackle Kush. Both Sierra Leone and Liberia have declared a public health emergency due to increased substance abuse. Law enforcement agencies have stepped up their crackdown on trafficking networks, with recent joint operations demonstrating regional commitment and cooperation.

Governments in the Basin have also recognized the limitations of punitive measures and have launched awareness campaigns targeting youth. Sierra Leone’s anti-Kush campaign and Liberia’s Say No to Kush initiative educate youth about the dangers of the drug and offer alternative pathways through skills training and employment.

The goal is to secure the future of the Basin’s youth and safeguard the region’s hard-won progress

The goal is not just to curb drug use, but also to secure the future of the Basin’s youth and the region’s hard-won progress, Mansaray says. This is especially important given the deadly conflicts and health emergencies – including the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic – that Sierra Leone and Liberia in particular have endured over the past two decades.

Any approach to preventing the spread of Kush must transcend national boundaries and harness the collective strength of the countries in the Mano River Basin, possibly including the Economic Community of West African States. Guinea is consulting with its neighbors because the government does not know enough about the drug, said Gibril Ceesay of Guinea’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau. A source told ENACT that the government was setting up a task force to address the crisis.

Cross-border public awareness campaigns should aim to destigmatize addiction, promote a sense of collective responsibility, and encourage those affected to seek help. The governments of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea should also establish community-based rehabilitation programs and seek international support to address the consequences of a drug the region does not yet fully understand.

• About the author: Feyi Ogunade, Coordinator of the West African Observatory on Organized Crime, ENACT, ISS
• Source: This article was published on ISS Today and first published by ENACT