By Mohamed Konneh
The Youth and Child Advocacy Network (YACAN) in just released presser has raised concern over the involvement of Children, Adolescents and Youth in the high consumption of drug (Kush) and other substance in Schools and Slum communities in Freetown.
The Youth and Child Advocacy Network (YACAN) is a local non-profit organization that was established in 2005 by Sierra Leonean young people, aiming to provide opportunities for youth and children to learn, increase awareness, and contribute to advocacy efforts on issues that affect their wellbeing, including but not limited to education, health and security.
The organization provide platforms that create opportunities for young people to serve as volunteers or peer educators in forums such as school clubs and community action groups.
YACAN is also member of several Civil Society Coalitions such as the Education for All Coalition, the Y-Act Coalition against Tobacco and Nicotine on youth, and stands as a supportive partner to the Ministry of Health program against drug and substance abuse.
Sierra Leone as a country has a growing youth population with over 65% of the current population under 35yrs, about 10% of which are tobacco smokers, according to data from World Health Organisation. It is also believed that over 300,000 young people in Sierra Leone are on drugs. The Freetown City Council reported in October 2025 that they had serviced over 200 dead bodies as a result of drug related circumstances, and most of the victims are said to be youth.
In 2022, YACAN conducted a short survey in Kono district. Where over 500 school going children in Primary and Secondary schools admitted that they have used tobacco or other smoking substances at entertainment centers.
YACAN commends the government of Sierra Leone for their effort over the years in formulating policies and Laws to help mitigate drug and harmful substances in Sierra Leone. YACAN believes that existing laws and polices such as The National Drug Control Act of 2008 (reviewed in 2021), the Tobacco and Nicotine Drug Control Act of 2022, the Drug and Substance Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulation of 2024 and the Sierra Leone Tobacco Control Policy of 2023 are all very clear on the intention of the government to address and put under control all drug and substance abuse related challenges in the country. While YACAN recognises these efforts from Government, it is clear that there is still more to be done by both Government and Civil Society to drastically address this menace.
Concerns for Youth and Children:
1. Although Government has declared Kush as a public Health Emergency, YACAN is concerned that there is no clear directives on how to protect children that are directly or indirectly affected by this drug.
2. YACAN is aware that the survivors of Kush are of different age categories and therefore calling on government to provide services for care and support on an age specific approach to enable young people who are much younger to be healed and be reintegrated into society as soon as possible.
3. YACAN remains increasingly concerned about social media and other reports stating the high dropout rates in schools with children who use drugs have not accepted the situation, and have therefore made no efforts to put remedial measures in place to support such children to desist from the use of such drugs and return to school.
4. YACAN is displeased over the low response of the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs on women and girls particularly lactating mothers who are directly affected by the worsening situation of drug and substance abuse, and therefore call on government and other international organizations to speedily put mechanisms in place to help women, girls and orphans of parents who are or were drug users.
5. YACAN urges for an improvement in the limited show of knowledge and implementation of policies in relation to the passing of recent laws by the state on public smoking as evident in the 2023 Tobacco and Nicotine Drug Control Act of Sierra Leone.
6. YACAN recognises the seeming limited transparency and accountability in the fight against drug abuse and calls for a joint effort to de-escalate the growing number of Kush victims, particularly among unemployed and school-aged youth. A joint effort can further address the sluggish pace of rehabilitation and reintegration programs including the pervasive stigma and silence surrounding drug addiction in communities.
YACAN continues to remind government of their proactive action in the ongoing effort to make Sierra Leone a drug and substance abuse free nation.
Recommendations
1. YACAN recommends that the Government of Sierra Leone enforce drastic action that ensures an increased effort to promote high level campaign on Kush thus supporting and protecting children who are affected by the drug.
2. YACAN recommends that the responsible authority assigned by the government provide services for victims and affected children on an age and gender specific response method to help control and protect the dignity of young people and women.
3. YACAN calls on the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) to provide leadership and coordination on the current situation and clarity on how their constituencies are supporting children and young people to eliminate drug abuse practices, and how they will support young people including children and young women to return to schools and higher institutions.
4. YACAN calls on the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to show leadership and coordinate issue on Girls and young women to ensure that their dignity and interests are prioritized by Government.
5. YACAN recommends that Government and INGO support local civil society children and youth organizations with proven experience in Social Mobilization to support government to increase awareness and education on all drug related policies and laws.
6. YACAN calls on state institutions that are responsible for law enforcement to increase their efforts in protecting and preventing drug and substance abuse across the country.
7. YACAN calls for a just and increased process that showcases improved credibility and accountability and strong monitoring of post rehabilitation of the over 600 victims already supported by the Ministry of Social Welfare in Sierra Leone.
As YACAN calls on Government to take appropriate actions on the above recommendations and continue to create inclusive programs and work with CSOs to provide community strategies on effective rehabilitation and reintegration of victims and affected children who are orphans of drug abuse(s), YACAN commits its unwavering support in the fight against drug and substance abuse in Sierra Leone and call on all stakeholders to support the ongoing efforts.
