By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
The Government of Sierra Leone has transferred a third batch of more than 50 people battling substance abuse from the Eastern Region to the Daru Rehabilitation Centre, expanding a national drive to curb drug addiction and reintegrate affected youths.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, working with the National Public Health Agency, law enforcement, and community partners, moved beneficiaries from Kenema City, Daru Town, and Kailahun Town into the facility for treatment.
Officials said the group was identified through voluntary registration with the ministry and through referrals from parents and guardians seeking help for relatives. Demand for placement continues to rise as families respond to the growing toll of drug abuse, particularly addiction to the synthetic drug Kush.
Ansu Konneh, Director of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services at the Ministry of Social Welfare, confirmed that the programme is fully government-funded. Participants receive three meals daily, counseling, spiritual support, and structured recreational activities designed to aid recovery.
Trained caregivers and military personnel stationed at the centre maintain a secure and supportive environment. Under facility rules, residents may not hold drugs, mobile phones, money, or other unauthorized items. Personal belongings are logged on admission and returned upon completion.
Rehabilitation includes therapeutic storytelling, where participants recount their experiences with substance abuse. Graduates later stage community skits and performances that highlight the dangers of drug use and promote behavioral change.
According to the ministry, many former residents have successfully reintegrated. Some have returned to school, resumed work, or taken on advocacy roles in their communities. These graduates, now called “Ambassadors of Peace,” help identify other victims and encourage them to enter treatment.
The Ministry of Social Welfare is urging parents, community leaders, and development partners to sustain support for national efforts against drug abuse.
Kush, a potent synthetic drug, has driven a surge in addiction cases among young people in recent years. Health experts continue to cite rehabilitation as a critical tool for recovery and prevention.
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