Human Bone Drug Crisis Triggers National Emergency In West African State

The Sierra Leone, West Africa government has declared a state of national emergency.

The emergency was prompted by a terrifying new trend where bones from human corpses are used to create a psychoactive drug known locally as ‘kush’ or ‘zombie drug.’

First surfacing in 2018, ‘kush,’ or the ‘zombie drug,’ has gained notoriety in Sierra Leone for its intense, hypnotic effects, which can last several hours.

This potent drug is crafted from partially decomposed human bones mixed with other substances, like cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, and even formaldehyde. This leads to a high that users describe as zombie-like.

The allure of this high has driven users and dealers to commit acts of grave robbery, extracting skeletons from cemeteries to meet demand.

President Julius Maada Bio prompted the state of national emergency in an April 5th televised speech to the country.

He expressed serious concerns about the threat posed by widespread drug and substance use, specifically highlighting the impacts of synthetic drugs like ‘kush.’

To combat this grim practice, authorities have begun stationing guards at cemeteries to prevent further desecration.

According to the BBC, President Bio plans to address this crisis further by setting up a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse. The task force will implement a five-stage strategy to combat the drug crisis, including a focus on investigations, arrests, and prosecutions related to ‘kush.’

Sierra Leone’s efforts to provide support and rehabilitation for those impacted by the drug face significant challenges.

The country currently operates only one drug rehabilitation center in the capital, Freetown. This 100-bed facility, hastily established in an army training center earlier this year, has been criticized for its inadequacy. Many describe it as more of a holding center than a true rehabilitation center.

The country plans to establish additional rehab centers in every district, staffed by trained professionals to offer necessary care and support for individuals struggling with addiction.

While there is no official death toll linked to ‘kush’ abuse, the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital has reported a staggering 4,000 percent increase in admissions related to this drug between 2020 and 2023.

‘Kush’ abuse has primarily impacted young men under the age of 25.