How Sierra Leone’s Young People Became Ensnared by the Dangerous “Kush” Substance
The emergence of kush, a synthetic concoction derived primarily from marshmallow leaves, marks a troubling chapter in West Africa's battle against substance abuse. First surfacing in Sierra Leone during the early 2020s, this alarming trend quickly gained traction, infiltrating neighboring nations such as Liberia, Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal. What drives this rapid proliferation? Is it the ease of production or the allure of a cheap high that beckons many into its addictive embrace?
Initially, kush might…