ALBAWABA - The emergence of a new deadly drug containing human bone powder has sparked concern across several West African nations due to its easy availability, low cost, and horrible impact, especially on young people.
This drug, commonly referred to as "Kush" or "Zombie," has quickly gained popularity in countries such as Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leading to alarming health crises and societal chaos.
In Sierra Leone alone, reports indicate that "Kush" is responsible for claiming the lives of around ten individuals every week, with thousands more needing urgent medical attention for severe symptoms ranging from loss of consciousness to vivid hallucinations.
The majority of those falling victim to this deadly drug are between the ages of 18 and 25, showing the grave consequences of its widespread use among young demographics.
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"Kush" continues to be a growing concern as local criminal groups purposely incorporate hazardous additives like fentanyl, tramadol, and formaldehyde to intensify its effects, enhance dependency, and exploit vulnerable people.
The addition of human bone powder, a macabre component sourced from unknown deceased individuals or unclaimed remains, further accentuates the drug's unsettling composition and sinister allure, rapidly leading users down a path of addiction and despair.
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Renowned Nigerian researcher Abdo Tarawy warns that the experimental nature of "Kush" poses severe psychological and physical risks to users, putting them into a spiral of addiction within a short period.
With unregulated borders facilitating the drug's clandestine distribution, this deadly drug continues to bring havoc on communities while also posing serious health threats across the region.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for coordinated interventions to address the growing "Kush" crisis to safeguard future generations, while also taking into account the social and economic challenges some countries which this drug is affecting are going through, and how this drug will surely not make things any better.
