The Chief Whip of the opposition in Parliament representing Kambia District, Hon Abdul Karim Kamara, has informed Members in the House of Representatives that, drug abuse has become prevalent in the world, especially in West African countries.
However, the people’s honourable as he is described by man, in the last sitting in the Chambers of Parliament also vehemently lamented on the use of drugs amongst young people as it has become epidemic in the country.
He stated that ‘the abuse of the drug is killing potential young people in the region’.
Hon. Kamara revealed that Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia are struggling with an increasing number of young people becoming addicted to a substance known as Kush or K2.
Hon AKK described the substance as a roll up drug which is smoked like a cigarette or cannabis, adding that rising cases in Sierra Leone and Guinea have shown that the drug is pretty dangerous.
He said after a few puffs, the addict is unable to stand straight. He went on, regardless of the aftermath i.e frequent falling, injuries and loss of prestige, users still grow love for it as they search all opportunities to obtain more.
The Chief Whip said majority of Sierra Leoneans believe that the inflow of the drug into the country has resulted to the highest rate of thievery as those taking the substance are financially bankrupt and that the only option for them is to steal.
During his submissions, he briefly pointed out some of the lapses of the government in handling the synthetic drug.
“We cannot handle the issue of drug without empowering the institutions with resources”.
He furthered said that, last week they discovered corpses in the western part of Freetown suspected to be drug addicts.
As it is stands, many have said, a collective effort is pivotal to mitigate drug abuse and as a result.
Hon AKK called on the well of Parliament to propose laws that would be able to stifle the spread of the drugs as the situation is getting worse every day in the country.
He also noted that, as of now, they [MPs] are not direct victims neither their children but in a situation in which the drug would be taken by students of various learning institutions in the country nothing sets in but a disaster for the nation.
Agreeing on his stance and advice, Members of Parliament from the SLPP also reiterated the need for a robust campaign and institutionalization of laws to be put in place that will mitigate the consumption rate of the lethal drug in the country taking by young people.