‘Zombie’ Drug in West African Country: A psychoactive drug made from human bones has forced addicts in the West African country of Sierra Leone to dig graves. According to a BBC report, this terrible threat has forced Sierra Leone to declare a national emergency. Police officers in Freetown are guarding cemeteries to stop people trying to dig graves to make the ‘zombie’ drug. Let us tell you that this drug is called Kush and it is made from different types of toxins, a major part of which is also human bones.
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The intoxication of this drug lasts for several hours
The drug first emerged in the West African country about six years ago. According to the outlet, the drug produces a hypnotic high that can last for several hours. The drug has become a widespread problem in the country and dealers have reportedly become grave robbers, stealing skeletons from thousands of graves to meet demand.
The country imposed emergency
“Our country is currently facing an existential threat due to the effects of drug and substance abuse, particularly the synthetic drug Kush,” Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said, according to the outlet. “There has been an increase in mortality rates” among drug users, he said. He also said a task force has been set up to eradicate drug addiction. This means that centers are being set up in every district that will be staffed with trained professionals to provide care and support to those suffering from drug addiction.”
Attempts to stop drug supply chain
Authorities have also been told to carry out “investigations, arrests and prosecutions” to stop the drug supply chain. Currently, Freetown is the only city in the country to have a de-addiction centre. The 100-bed centre was set up at the Army Training Centre earlier this year. Experts have reportedly described it as “more of a holding centre than a rehabilitation centre” due to a lack of adequate facilities.
Officially, there is no information about anyone’s death due to this drug
Dr Abdul Jalloh, head of the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital, said the president’s emergency declaration was the “right step” and would be “critical in tackling drug use”. Deaths from Kush drug use have not been officially reported so far, but a doctor in Freetown told the BBC that in the last few months several young people have died of organ failure after consuming the drug. Admissions to Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital due to Kush-related diseases have increased by 4,000% between 2020 and 2023.
