People started stealing bones from graves for ‘Zombie’ drug, West African country imposed national emergency

A psychoactive drug made from human bones has forced addicts to dig graves in the West African country Sierra Leone. According to a BBC report, this terrible threat has forced Sierra Leone to declare a national emergency. Police officers in Freetown are protecting cemeteries to stop people trying to dig up graves to make ‘zombie’ drugs. Let us tell you that this drug is called Kush and it is made from different types of toxic substances, a major part of which is human bones.

The intoxication of this drug lasts for many hours
This 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 its 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 drug and substance abuse, particularly the effects of the synthetic drug kush,” Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said, according to the outlet. There has been an “increase in mortality” among drug users, he said. He also said that a task force has been formed to eliminate drug addiction. This means that such centers will be set up in every district. “where there will be an adequate staff of trained professionals to provide care and support to people suffering from drug addiction.”

Attempt to stop drug supply chain
Also, officials have been asked to conduct “investigations, arrests and prosecution” to stop the supply chain of this drug. At present, Freetown is the only city in the country where there is a drug de-addiction centre. This 100-bed center was established at the Army Training Center earlier this year. Experts have reportedly described it as “more of a holding center than a rehabilitation center” due to the lack of adequate facilities.

There is no official information about any 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 “crucial in combating drug use”. There is no official information about deaths due to the consumption of Kush drug, but a doctor in Freetown told BBC that in the last few months, many youth have died due to organ failure after consuming the drug. Between 2020 and 2023, admissions to Sierra Leone psychiatric hospitals for Kush-related illnesses have increased by 4,000%.