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The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with key partners, has successfully discharged and reintegrated over forty survivors of Kush, a highly addictive substance that has severely affected young people across Sierra Leone.
The discharge and reintegration ceremony was marked by emotional testimonies from former Kush users, who shared painful accounts of how the drug nearly destroyed their lives. Several survivors recounted suffering from serious medical conditions, including infected leg wounds, severe malnutrition, and mental health disorders resulting from prolonged substance abuse.
The intervention is largely funded by the Government of Sierra Leone, with additional support from Partners In Health (PIH) Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the National Drug and Substance Abuse Taskforce. The programme forms part of the national emergency response initiated by President Julius Maada Bio to address the growing Kush crisis in the country.
Under the leadership of the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby (PhD, MPH), the Ministry is mandated to provide comprehensive medical treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals affected by substance abuse. In October 2025, more than forty individuals rescued from the harmful effects of Kush were admitted to the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital at Kissi, Freetown, many of whom arrived with severe medical, psychiatric, and social complications.
Following months of intensive in-patient care, wound management, and psychosocial support, over 90 percent of the survivors have fully recovered. Only four patients required referral for specialized treatment at PIH Sierra Leone facilities in Kono.
As part of the reintegration process, all forty-two survivors received recovery packages, including clothing and other essential items, to support their smooth transition back into society.
One of the survivors, Matinda Isha Sheriff, shared a moving testimony, describing the devastating impact of Kush on her life and expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Health and its partners for the support that enabled her recovery and reintegration.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining rehabilitation efforts as part of the broader national strategy to combat substance abuse and protect the wellbeing of Sierra Leone’s youth.
