The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a campaign to combat the use of the psychoactive substance known as “Kush” in Sierra Leone, describing it as a “war” against a growing epidemic. The initiative was announced at a sensitization outreach mission held in Freetown.
The ECOWAS Parliament said the mission reflects a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility among West African nations to protect communities, particularly young people, from the dangers of substance abuse.
The declaration follows strong appeals from members of Sierra Leone’s Parliament during an ECOWAS Plenary session last year in Abuja. One MP highlighted the alarming rate of “Kush” addiction, citing the significant daily cost to users in a country with a low average income, and recalled a day where 32 deaths were linked to the drug.
In response, members of the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly the Chairman of the Health Committee, Orlando Pereira Dias, convened in Freetown to outline regional strategies to combat “Kush” addiction. The visit focused on a collaborative effort to strengthen the ECOWAS Parliament’s stance on addressing rising drug addiction among youth in the region.
Veronica Kadie Sesay, the leader of the Sierra Leone delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, told Sierra Leone’s Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, about previous pronouncements made in their own parliament regarding the need to eradicate drug addiction among youth.
Honourable Sesay explained that the ECOWAS Parliament’s visit aimed to engage member states in a collective effort to tackle drug addiction in the region, especially the emergence of new and potent substances like “Kush.” She noted the multi-sectoral approach taken by the Sierra Leone government to address the crisis, referencing the National Drug Control Act 2008 and the ongoing support from Sierra Leone’s Parliament for reforms in drug prevention, rehabilitation, and enforcement. She also highlighted the increased involvement of civil society and the media in surveillance campaigns and community outreach. Despite these efforts, she noted the continued high accessibility of drugs and the under-resourcing of rehabilitation centres.
Honourable Sesay also detailed a tour of drug rehabilitation centres in Freetown to assess their needs for potential remedial action.
Orlando Pereira Dias, Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliamentary Committee on Health, congratulated Sierra Leone on its election as Chair of the Authority of Heads of State in the ECOWAS region. He emphasised that health is a crucial issue for the people of the ECOWAS region, which is why ECOWAS has prioritised the fight against drug abuse and the promotion of good mental health among youth. He called for a unified effort to eradicate drug abuse within the region.
Sierra Leone’s Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, welcomed the ECOWAS delegation and acknowledged that drug abuse is a significant concern not only in Sierra Leone but across the ECOWAS region and West Africa. He urged the delegation to take concrete action on drug abuse among youth, stating that it was a pressing issue for leaders. Speaker Thomas assured the ECOWAS Parliament of Sierra Leone’s full support in the fight against drug abuse.
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