There has been a drug dynasty in the political dispensation of governance system in Sierra Leone in the sense that government in and out imported narcotic drugs to hinder the progress and future of the youthful population and to also divert their minds from the heinous and shady activities done by selfish politicians whom are the very importers of these harmful drug.

To start with, during the erstwhile All People’s Congress (APC) regime led by former President Ernest Bai Koroma, Tramadol gained its popularity by flooding the market while a large part of the youth population were passively or actively involved in drinking Tramadol up to more than one card per day and on a daily basis. The abuse of Tramadol is now habitual to so many youths that they are now living with the substance and can no longer turn their backs from this killer drug derailing their lives. Some youth take up to one card Tramadol with different milligrams starting from 250 upwards which put them in a dizzy state with nothing to worry about the future. Some take it to have pleasure while another sect of the youths take Tramadol as auxiliary to do hard labor jobs.

The drug within its shortest time spread and gained its momentum around the four corners of Sierra Leone and became an easy to get drug due to it being sold by street peddlers. Drugs and Law enforcement authorities were worrisome because the imported narcotic substance will give a bleak and unprogressive future of the youth and as a result piled burden on the government to take and treat these narcotics at the government psychiatric home.

The increased unemployment was a major cause that was leading the youth who are called the future leaders to the habitual intake of Tramadol. Former President Ernest Bai Koroma admonished the youth to refrain from drinking Tramadol which he said is impairing the health of youths. But it was a fruitless one and as if he rang the bell for these addicts to imbibe themselves more into the habit.

Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma’s call was not taken and treated with utmost seriousness by state security operatives who failed to investigate arrest and prohibit the importation of such inimical drug in the midst of the youthful population and as a result so many youths were buried.

Just after President Bio took the hot seat, the most deadly and killer drug called Kush gained its popularity and the starting of a new life style for the youths. Kush is now the order of the day with the lives and future of the youths at stake. The killer drug spread like wild fire and is now uncontrollable in the country because it has been made ubiquitous by its importers who are busy spreading its wings to dump the future of more youths.

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has warned the youthful population to abstain and resist from smoking Kush which he described as a very bad drug killing youths in some other parts of the world. But disappointingly for President Bio, officers of the police and military have been caught smoking Kush with spiraling videos as evidence. The whole situation is too perplex as the citizenry is baffling with the question who to arrest who for Kush due to personnel of SLP and RSLAF involving in the abuse of this narcotic drug.

According to some health expert, one bad effect of Kush is dehydration. The substance dehydrates the human body drastically to the point of death leading to pale skin complexion.

The government together with Anti-drugs agencies, civil society activists and organizations should embark on a robust sensitization along every corner of the country preaching the gospel truth of Kush and why the youths must abstain from smoking Kush. If the government truly care about the future of the youth they must try by all means possible to impound the importation of such drug by arresting its importers.

So many useful and youthful lives have been buried due to Kush as families continue to admit their children, relatives and loved ones at the government Psychiatric home at Kissy therefore leaving the burden on government to seek the health and well- being of these narcotics abusers.

Written By Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura