I am Jamaican. My country is struggling too but with gun crime more than anything else. I teared up for the dad with his 2 kids. The kids are so sweet and beautiful, I couldn't stop crying when I saw their innocent faces and watched the dad help with their preparation for school. I truly hope that he will conquer his addiction so that he can be the dad they deserve and the man he wants to be. My heart absolutely breaks for these people addicted to Kush and I sincerely hope that their government (and society in general as this must be tackled as a team) can help to PREVENT further victims while helping those who are already hooked.
I remember when it first came about, they were selling it in shops throughout the uk with bright packaging calling it syntthetic cannabis. Addicts became known as spice zombies, It got made illegal to sell in shops and now it is only common in prisons here. Its really nasty stuff. Tell me about gun crime in jamica? You mean shootings are the problem? Do people have all sorts of automatic weapons? Modern weapons, or old kalishnokovs and shitty old pistols?
@@in-secs8098It isnt weed, Its i believe “spice potpurri” which was a cheap synthetic marijuana substitute which ran the uk for a while until it was outlawed
As a Somalian, It really touched me and have no words but to pray for them to heal up and recover from this epidemic. I also wish that somebody gives special care to Aisha. Women are vulnerable in that mad world.
What it has to do with you being a Somali. I never understood why people nowadays have to state whom they are, before commenting. In the end the majority who state their motherland are citizens of another country. The hypocrisy is unreal in our world.
As a rehabilitated drug addict, I pray others still in the grip of this mental slavery break free, but the reality is that they must want to change to stand a chance of breaking free.
@@aliyu5653 surely there’s a much better way to handle all those issues mentioned. I’m not judging those that take that route but I’ve never understood why people won’t face their demons. I’ve gone through homelessness. Failed relationship(abusive one). Pear pressure etc and I never once thought hmmm let me shove some drugs up my nose or through a needle. I simply accepted my situation at the time. Cried my lungs out and worked through it. I’ll never understand why anyway would choose this route. It’s inhumane.
@@aliyu5653 I’d also never experiment with something I could get addicted to. We grew up being told drugs are bad. Many campaigns on television and schools. I’ve never been curious enough to try something that will make me look like a hobo. And possibly sleep with strange men for support.
Hope the world finds the strength to quit its bullshit.. one person quiting won't bring peace especially when the world doesn't care about normal sober people.. we have no power.. people treat people terribly.. it's so sad.. ask yourself why people want to do this? Would you be able to cope with the conditions these people are under soberly?
For sure. She's in a living hell, the poor thing. She's only young and what does life hold 4 her? U can understand why they want 2 blot everything out. My heart aches 4 them. 😢
One of the saddest videos I’ve ever seen, especially when her laughter dies and her eyes are filled with such enormous pain. I pray for this poor young woman.
As a Nigerian I'm so Sad seeing our African youths going into drugs,crime and prostitution " hookup" as a means of easing themselves from the pressure's of life
@@edetubong4889 And there was 'Goskolo' that nearly destroyed the young ones in Jos, Plateau State, if not for the quick intervention of the leaders there. It is a mixture of concentrated battery water (acid) with other chemicals.
A human tragedy. Caused by politicians and colonalisators. When will african leadersdo their best for african fellows? All of them are corrupted and of same rotten kind…
This is making tears come to my eyes because I know the struggle of Africans already ....and now this...The final straw is when a man or woman doesnt have their right mind....This destroys the family, the community, its over
Everyone has struggles in this world, not just Africans. Get a grip. Your view on Africa is so warped because you get your coverage from western propaganda.
I'm glad the footplayer found the motivation to quit through his kids. I was moved when they were asked what they love about their father and they answered he takes care of them despite their situation. Also, I sincerely hope this woman can one day find the strength to quit it before it's too late, you can hear the cry for help in her voice so clearly! The governments in Africa are destroying the youth, it needs to change!!! Sharing this enligtening documentary to my friends.
Our African leaders are a big problem. Drugs of this kind are not in Africa by mistake,someone who's politically connected is benefiting and that someone is an enemy of Africa. Problem is Africans cannot unite,we tend to think we can survive in isolation.
I know who put crack in our neighborhoods in the states to try and kill us off everyone there should be asking how is this drug getting into the country and who has the most go gain by killing off the young,
The young man who takes care of his kids🥺❤️ I pray God helps him. And PRO, God bless you for the work you're doing. I pray your son is rescued from this drug soon. Thank you BBC Africa for this story❤️
believe you me they going to bring it here, this time we really gonna have to fight hard ,no ways ,we can't allow people to destroy us like this, hell no
Follow the money. Who is making kush? Who created it? Where else are there addicts? Is Sierra Leone an experiment? Those are the real questions. The simpler and tragic realities shown in the video lead nowhere.
Life is a challenge but i wish we didn't live in a world where someone's reality is so bad that to escape, they turn to deadly drugs of any kind to feel safe, happiness ,warmth and love just for those few minutes or hours !
As an African American, it is so sad to see my African brothers and sisters suffering from poverty and addiction. I wish that there were more that we all can do to eradicate poverty and suffering in this enriched and powerful continent and restore greatness to a place that was stolen from and abused for so long. This hurts to watch but thank you for shedding a light on the issue.
This is absolutely heartbreaking! The government really needs to step in full-time and eradicate this issue ASAP before it gets a lot worse. I’m just wondering what I can do to help out? I’m a Sierra Leonean American & this breaks my heart! I’ll keep them all in my prayers🙏🏾
@@francisjohnsesay1265 lol why don't you take care of the youth in America, or whatever country you live in, that are on the wrong path before you dive into another countries problems.
@@francisjohnsesay1265 Thank you for your courage and your strength. We definitely need a movement to stop this terrible epidemic. Sadly, many of the ways of the Western world that has negative impact, has taken over parts of Africa and they do not have the social resources to deal with the dangerous drug epidemic . - I appreciate your comment. Have a great day.
The best thing for Sierra Leone would be the legalization of cannabis. The chemical stuff they spray these herbs with are synthetic cannnabinoids mixed mostly in china. This stuff destroys the human brain over time. If they legalize cannabis, the government can make money and provide new jobs for people while the kush dealer cannot sell much anymore.
I somehow knew who was behind this because they want your resources and your country. How the hell are the people who have the richest resources have the poorest people
Excellent documentary, I pray for the victims and the heroes against drug addiction involved. I hope that counselor 's sixteen year old son, realize how much he is loved and comes off the drugs and gets help for his addiction.
So Nigerian leaders decided to watch nigerians dying and Nigeria collapsing!? The whole world leaders fight to get Africa but african presidents do not fight to protect her! Mother Africa what is happening?
I am white British and smoked spice/kush for 6 years. It drove me to insanity. But I beat it. Only because I had hope. These people don't have that luxury. May god be with them. ❤ Sierra Leone
The society needs to stop the stigmatization on these victims, the government and NGOs should put in place resources to assist them when they stop taking this harmful substances, it’s not only the awareness and long speeches,it will include financial support, make jobs available too.
Thank you.... They do this documentary on poor environment and they forget the reason these people are facing this terrible issue.... You see see people with their comments.... This people are victims.... And they are escaping reality with nonsense like this... Nobody talk about it
Every country should help one another. But instead the powerful politicians spend money on bombs/weapons. There is more money in war than there is in helping people get rid of addictions. It’s a sad world. I pray one day. We will have a world without borders. Without war. Instead everyone helping one another.
It’s because Kush aka Spice is even cheaper than weed or any other drug so it doesn’t just send people crazy more quicker it also puts them out of business
Black Americans watching this. We have the skills and resources to help. We have experienced multiple drug epidemics, we know how we will be taken advantage of in these situations. The leaves come from Africa but the chemicals do not (He said it comes from abroad 👀). We need to find out what country is supplying. Our elected leaders need to be pushed and foundations set up to send money to Africa for SPECIFIC aid and not just general aid. It's important that we are involved in the future of our continent and move resources from here to there.
American citizens have donated billions in aid to Africa for decades and Americans have been going to Africa for over 100 years trying to help the people there. One young girl who went there to help was dragged from her car and beaten to death by a mob. White South Africans did incredible things for African natives and look at the thanks they`ve received in return and the results of turning over control to these monsters. Look at the former Rhodesia now! There is NO WAY to help Africans!
Wow... this is so heart wrenching! Thank you @BBC News Africa. I can't help but notice the stark similarities between Sierra Leone and Nigeria where I am from. Same "tramadol" cough syrup problem, now this! So, so, disheartening. It felt like watching my own blood brothers and sister getting wrecked by terrible addiction. Please what can we do? Is there some way viewers can help? What is the local government of Freetown and the Sierra Leone government as a whole saying/doing about this? Has the African Union seen this? Isn't there a department in the UN that should intervene with the Sierra Leone government on this? So many sad, sad, questions running through my mind...
This whole documentary is applicable to Nigeria too. The 'kush' substance is what we call 'Colorado' or 'Colo' here, a particular type of it too is very popular. It's called 'Black Mamba' and they are synthetic cannabinoids: synthetic marijuana. They're all over the place, we even see videos surface every now and then of someone displaying madness, sometimes temporary, as a result of an overdose or something. It's 100% the same in Nigeria, maybe even worse because people are not so aware
The kids also need stories directly from addicts so that they can see what it will do to them. It's one thing to see a healthy person tell them drugs are bad. It's even more powerful to see addicts and those who gave it up tell their stories first hand. Kids should be encouraged to love them and help them get healthy again.
I'm from Senegal I pray for my brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone. West Africa as a whole should resolve this drug problem for reeal our youths deserve better .
In west Africa the woman’s have a better life and for man’s everything is responsibility’s that is not fair. This bitches why there don’t care about his sons ??
I leave in Freetown SL 🇸🇱 the number of people I know that smoke this thing call "kush" here surpasses the number of people that do not smoke it. everything you see here in this video is true and more. it is taken by old and young people and it's very easy to get cuz it only cost Le 5000 (£0.50)a pack. People from all works of life take it including police officers, government workers, so-called influencers, artists, and the list goes on and on. for dealers, it is a really reliable source of income as they make millions and millions of Leone off just by selling it. this is a really big issue and it is harming especially the young people of this country. And worse of it all I don't see it stopping any time soon. Because the government isn't doing much to stop it anyway. so sad 😔
I've learned so much from this documentary, and still learning so much from the very intelligent, touching, and sincere comments. Thank you all; each and all of yr comments are very enlightening. If we work with this same honesty and commitment, we can proceed to initiating and executing changes on the ground, one day at a time.
As always, powerful and heartrending reporting, Mr. Conteh. You consistently represent the challenges faced but you do not moralize or revile those who are desperate. Salone has faced so many hardships and such suffering, and I believe so deeply that Sierra Leoneans will find a better future.
How is this well researched?? They didnt even mention how "spice/K2" came as a result of prohibition in the USA and the decriminalization of Cannabis forced producers to seek other markets
BBC AFRICA....you should put ways/contact information that as an audience we can help. Don't waste this platform, show us how we also can help/take action as this is a society issue so the community should also be involved in helping solve problems.
Julie Macharia Black MP David Lammy, and black comedian Lenny Henry would accuse you of white saviour syndrome, and new colonialist, if you have the temerity to help
Pretty foolish of the reporter to ask that woman those questions when she was in that state. Have some respect and compassion bro, you couldve waited 20 minutes for her to come down.
I have said this and I am saying this again. It breaks my heart to see the African continent like this. Africa was the place of Kings and Queens but due to slavery, colonialism, civil wars, epidemics, exploitation by the west and neo-colonialism - it seems that Africa has never caught a break. Africa has the richest countries in the world but we live below and are behind many other countries who are actually progressing.
Colonialism is the only this that destroyed African. Slavery was a source of income. The colonial countries were educating their youth while Africa was being divided.
@@Provision600 slavery propped up paper kingdoms that collapsed as soon as it was outlawed, leading to destabilisation that made colonising the continent so easy. Plus it ripped an entire population of abled bodied people that it suffered without. Every single interaction the global north has had with Africa has been detrimental. It’s honestly heartbreaking that the cradle of civilisation, a continent so rich in resources has been absolutely destroyed by outside influence.
Bro, blacks are also to blame. I reside in Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe was a autocrat and dictator, now we have an even worse president Emmerson Mnangagwa who is much worse than Mugabe and he is corrupt and the black people here are tired of it. You can't just blame the British and colonization, some black presidents are also to blame. Point blank period
@@gg-bs1ey Yes it destroyed kingdoms but colonial countries had the factories to create more guns and bullets while the rest of the world was still living primitive. The whole world practice slavery even native Americans. If African kingdoms traded more for guns with the Ottomans or Europeans before the great slave trade then it wouldve been harder for the colonialist.
This same shit is happening in Nigeria too, here they call it Colorado or black mamba. It’s ravishingly the young generation and it needs to curtain before it’s too late.
I live in Miami and we used to smoke black mamba 10 years ago before they made it illegal. Black mamba was actually kinda strong , one time I smoked a joint and went blind for 10 or 15 mins , I thought i was dying.
Not sure were it originated from, but In the US it was marketed as a synthetic marijuana. It was suppose to be safer then marijuana. It was legal until people started dying. It’s a very dangerous drug.
I think that you should include how we can help out. Like the man with two children, you can see that he is trying to be a better person and a father. I wouldn't mind buying clothes and scholastic materials for his children.
I felt really bad for the girl who said she is addicted. I feel this fatherly kindness to her. I pray to God here, to help this baby from satanist addiction.
As a Malian I saw both of my step brothers and childhood friend dying slowly of this drugs. It is so sad to see young people getting addicted to this garbage. I pray for them all.
One of my best friends is currently addicted to K2 aka kush 😢 it's heartbreaking because she expressed she wants to get clean but can't go to rehab because she can't leave her mother and daughter with her sister who a pill and cocaine addict 😩. I pray for her family for deliverance in Jesus's name; I don't know what else i can do. These drug demons are horrible 😢
Merrrrrn and to think this country is rich in diamond, I’m an African a Ghanaian and seeing this hurts me so bad, where did we go wrong, you can be in another African country and think it doesn’t matter to you buh the reality is dah it does, things aren’t suppose to be this way for us Africans, our leaders constantly continue to fail us, they have no plans for the youth. If I have the power to change I’d change my continent Africa first, 😢😢😭😭😭😭 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Hmmmmmm GOD help Africa
Wow this was happening like about 10 years ago in United States. People were biting each other some young kids had killed two people and buried them in the snow because they were smoking that kush synthetic weed
I have been very confused about everyone calling this drug kush? I think in the UK it was called Spice it was a legal herb, sprayed with synthetic substances, so no relation at all to weed/marijuana. I have also never heard of K2?
@@Nimoes_archive k2 is what we basically call spice in the US. K2 is synthetic weed that was marketed as a healthier alternative but it made people go crazy
The fact that people think taking drugs to prevent stress is actually the main cause of addiction. All this really require strong family support. If you're left alone in such world addiction becomes inevitable. Praying for your country
I was hooked on this in Florida about 6yrs ago,it's a homeless drug down there, I had to move back to Chicago my hometown to escape it,thank GOD I have family that loves me cause it was taking me down. I had so many friends who passed from that and nall! I'm Good now‼💪🏿💯
From 22:25 I personally think it’s not the mad world that people like these loose their talent to , but the reality of the Environment, the hardships, the poverty and all these numerous hardlines in the country . That’s what they loose it to , upon watching this documentary you really notice that people are using kush as a get away drug . And the million dollar question is , what are they escaping from ?, (even tho a tip of it is stated ) would they have been kush addicts if they didn’t have such a hard reality to live in ? . Would they have been kush addicts if they had a stable job , and are able to upkeep themselves ? . People are pushed into all these self harm get away drugs. I see it As a chain effect . And if we want to win this war, we need to focus on the whole chain and find a way of breaking it , not only just focusing on the drug link in the chain
Poverty and idleness is trying young Africans into embracing toxic habits (drugs). Our leaders need to rise up to their responsibilities. Create viable economies.
Man that was addicted to this for years it was just called spice when I came out here.. Took me about 2 weeks of being horribly sick to get off of it.. Such a sad situation for them to be in
I'm so sad to see this. Im sure the life's of these people are not easy. And then compound the suffering with a terrible drug as this one. Good lord it's just devistating but will can cure all these pains the will to live a good sober moral prudent life I wish for them all
Sadly someone is making money whilst destroying people that are already vulnerable. Who is bringing it into the country? I’m sure the authorities know the people bringing it into the country.
Fyi for all the people saying Kush is a synthetic cannabinoid, you're wrong. You're confusing it with the product Kush in the US. Kush in this part of the world refers to a mixture of fentanyl, tramadol, and marijuana. The primary ingredient that causes addiction is the fentanyl
And has completely nothing to with American Colorado Kush cannabis. I ask myself why it's even called this. Propaganda at work. Spraying chemicals on paper and smoking it has nothing to do with Cannabis Sativa.
Say NO to drug!!! Let’s protect ourselves, our kids, our brothers & sisters. Protect Africa!❤ Blame the politicians who are greedy to sacrifice the youth of Africa. God protect us & we pray. Amen! In Jesus name.
I nearly cried watching this documentary 😢 😭 💔 We are really losing energetic and potential youths in Sierra leone 🇸🇱 and Africa at large all in the name of Substance abuse as such. The government together with us should push to raise awareness inorder to stop the abuse 💔😭😥
Heartbreaking and sad! I would like to encourage anyone reading this, please commit to take interest in your family, community and uplift those you can. I wish we could return to the olden Afrikan ways of looking out for one another, especially the old, children and infirmed. We can improve and change our societies when we begin from our families and those in our midst. I commit to being kind and caring for one person today and especially those I my immediate surrounding. May those suffering from addictions heal!
As a Ghanaian who has visited Sierra Leone and many of its cities several times, I watched with tears in my eyes because I can relate to this. This issue is happening openly and it's heartbreaking because this a country that has a lot of work to be done in the public health space.The drug menace has deeply rooted itself in the country. What's even more painful is that this should be a matter of national security, yet local government and leadership have chosen to focus on other things, driven by power. Although Sierra Leone may have emerged from the war, there is still much that needs to be addressed. one key question this beautiful docu was silent on was where do these drugs come from ? And what has happened to those who tried smuggling them in aside being confiscated? aah ooh lord.
I just saw your BBC documentary on kusk in Sierra leone, what I did not notice you addressed is the supply side of this scourge...we can do all we can to punish these young innocent children, but if we don't tackle it at the source it's a losing battle. We are the people bringing this terrible disease to our country?
I am Jamaican. My country is struggling too but with gun crime more than anything else.
I teared up for the dad with his 2 kids. The kids are so sweet and beautiful, I couldn't stop crying when I saw their innocent faces and watched the dad help with their preparation for school. I truly hope that he will conquer his addiction so that he can be the dad they deserve and the man he wants to be.
My heart absolutely breaks for these people addicted to Kush and I sincerely hope that their government (and society in general as this must be tackled as a team) can help to PREVENT further victims while helping those who are already hooked.
God help us if this ever comes to Jamaica 🇯🇲 with all of our crime and violence and drug addicts this would be catastrophic to our nation
@@TT-go5yb Ikr, we wouldn't a can manage at all
I remember when it first came about, they were selling it in shops throughout the uk with bright packaging calling it syntthetic cannabis. Addicts became known as spice zombies, It got made illegal to sell in shops and now it is only common in prisons here. Its really nasty stuff. Tell me about gun crime in jamica? You mean shootings are the problem? Do people have all sorts of automatic weapons? Modern weapons, or old kalishnokovs and shitty old pistols?
Jamaica is a mostly weed culture they wouldn't trade weed for this sht only real hard drug addicts would not soft drug users like weed smokers
dude when i saw "kush" i was thinking about the weed, i was like wtf its safe, and then i saw something close to crack XDDD
Bare in mind, KUSH is not weed, its synthetic cannabis similar to the uk synthetic drug known as Spice or K2.
Wait fr?
Great to know
@@in-secs8098It isnt weed, Its i believe “spice potpurri” which was a cheap synthetic marijuana substitute which ran the uk for a while until it was outlawed
Very true natural hemp weed doesn’t do this . They are smoking chemicals pure and simple.
@@British_Cocoa wrdd
As a Somalian, It really touched me and have no words but to pray for them to heal up and recover from this epidemic. I also wish that somebody gives special care to Aisha. Women are vulnerable in that mad world.
Real shit walalo it’s a cold world man ppl in the US and Europe take their life for granted.
@@jmhbhkwell when we can look at other people in other countries it helps me sleep better knowing at least I got a bed
What it has to do with you being a Somali. I never understood why people nowadays have to state whom they are, before commenting. In the end the majority who state their motherland are citizens of another country. The hypocrisy is unreal in our world.
Thank you 🙏🏾
@@Togusemisdirected anger
As a rehabilitated drug addict, I pray others still in the grip of this mental slavery break free, but the reality is that they must want to change to stand a chance of breaking free.
Totally agree!
My question is why are people on drugs to begin with.
@@moe_ramz people get into drugs for different reasons. Bad friends, experimentation, peer groups, frustration, etc
@@aliyu5653 surely there’s a much better way to handle all those issues mentioned.
I’m not judging those that take that route but I’ve never understood why people won’t face their demons.
I’ve gone through homelessness. Failed relationship(abusive one). Pear pressure etc and I never once thought hmmm let me shove some drugs up my nose or through a needle. I simply accepted my situation at the time. Cried my lungs out and worked through it. I’ll never understand why anyway would choose this route. It’s inhumane.
@@aliyu5653 I’d also never experiment with something I could get addicted to. We grew up being told drugs are bad. Many campaigns on television and schools. I’ve never been curious enough to try something that will make me look like a hobo. And possibly sleep with strange men for support.
You can tell she's laughing through pain. Hope she finds the strength to quit
Hope the world finds the strength to quit its bullshit.. one person quiting won't bring peace especially when the world doesn't care about normal sober people.. we have no power.. people treat people terribly.. it's so sad.. ask yourself why people want to do this? Would you be able to cope with the conditions these people are under soberly?
For sure. She's in a living hell, the poor thing. She's only young and what does life hold 4 her? U can understand why they want 2 blot everything out. My heart aches 4 them. 😢
One of the saddest videos I’ve ever seen, especially when her laughter dies and her eyes are filled with such enormous pain. I pray for this poor young woman.
Aisha really broke my heart too. She tried to cover her sorrow with laughter, but it didnt work.
As a Nigerian I'm so Sad seeing our African youths going into drugs,crime and prostitution " hookup" as a means of easing themselves from the pressure's of life
This kush makes me remember 'mkpuru mmiri' in Nigeria recently discovered or introduced.
@@edetubong4889 And there was 'Goskolo' that nearly destroyed the young ones in Jos, Plateau State, if not for the quick intervention of the leaders there. It is a mixture of concentrated battery water (acid) with other chemicals.
Nigeria is not easy...I feel so pity seeing all this on social media
A human tragedy. Caused by politicians and colonalisators. When will african leadersdo their best for african fellows? All of them are corrupted and of same rotten kind…
@@okonofuaGodpower This is Sierra Leone
The pain in her voice when she laughed while saying ''i will tell God I've come as a result of Kush'' 🥺💔
Heart breaking, her soul is sad
19:00 this guy seems so nice and like he really cares about his son AND his community! I hope his son comes home and gets his life together 🙏🏻
⁹😅
Sierra Leone as a country has been through so much. This is very sad 😞
Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.
India is not even a go-to spot with too much problems too on its own
This is making tears come to my eyes because I know the struggle of Africans already ....and now this...The final straw is when a man or woman doesnt have their right mind....This destroys the family, the community, its over
Everyone has struggles in this world, not just Africans. Get a grip. Your view on Africa is so warped because you get your coverage from western propaganda.
I'm glad the footplayer found the motivation to quit through his kids. I was moved when they were asked what they love about their father and they answered he takes care of them despite their situation. Also, I sincerely hope this woman can one day find the strength to quit it before it's too late, you can hear the cry for help in her voice so clearly! The governments in Africa are destroying the youth, it needs to change!!! Sharing this enligtening documentary to my friends.
Our African leaders are a big problem. Drugs of this kind are not in Africa by mistake,someone who's politically connected is benefiting and that someone is an enemy of Africa. Problem is Africans cannot unite,we tend to think we can survive in isolation.
Truely agree
African together strong!
Very very true
Being kept at the bottom so that the money stays at the top
I know who put crack in our neighborhoods in the states to try and kill us off everyone there should be asking how is this drug getting into the country and who has the most go gain by killing off the young,
The young man who takes care of his kids🥺❤️
I pray God helps him.
And PRO, God bless you for the work you're doing. I pray your son is rescued from this drug soon. Thank you BBC Africa for this story❤️
This is heartbreaking! Here in South Africa , young people are being destroyed by the street drug called Nyaope.
believe you me they going to bring it here, this time we really gonna have to fight hard ,no ways ,we can't allow people to destroy us like this, hell no
What is Nyaope?
@@denisezimmerman4208 it is a drug.
Follow the money.
Who is making kush? Who created it? Where else are there addicts? Is Sierra Leone an experiment?
Those are the real questions. The simpler and tragic realities shown in the video lead nowhere.
@@stevensmith2078 do you just constantly hear the theme to xfiles in your head? Also fck the RUF!
Life is a challenge but i wish we didn't live in a world where someone's reality is so bad that to escape, they turn to deadly drugs of any kind to feel safe, happiness ,warmth and love just for those few minutes or hours !
You said it well. It’s sad and pathetic
As an African American, it is so sad to see my African brothers and sisters suffering from poverty and addiction. I wish that there were more that we all can do to eradicate poverty and suffering in this enriched and powerful continent and restore greatness to a place that was stolen from and abused for so long. This hurts to watch but thank you for shedding a light on the issue.
No cap. I support our African brothers 💯. Shit like this needs to stop fr
DRUG addiction is worst in your country called America. The hub for hard drugs in the world👎👎👎👎👎
@@abokoeguale9783 we know that. But we’re not tryna have y’all go through the same problem we’re suffering from. It’s not a competition
@@demarcusdarius9096 They don't even like black Americans. That's why he just responded like that.
@@bsmi1361 nah. SOME don’t like Black Americans. I’m not gon generalize every African person like that. I know the others are cool with us
Praying for rehabilitation of these young souls 😭🙏🏽
This is absolutely heartbreaking! The government really needs to step in full-time and eradicate this issue ASAP before it gets a lot worse. I’m just wondering what I can do to help out? I’m a Sierra Leonean American & this breaks my heart! I’ll keep them all in my prayers🙏🏾
You can start a movement for some victims which I would love to be part of if you want to embark on such
Government really need for take action against dis
@@francisjohnsesay1265 lol why don't you take care of the youth in America, or whatever country you live in, that are on the wrong path before you dive into another countries problems.
@@CrustyUgg Whatever country you are from mind your business if the narrative doesn't fit yours.
@@francisjohnsesay1265 Thank you for your courage and your strength. We definitely need a movement to stop this terrible epidemic. Sadly, many of the ways of the Western world that has negative impact, has taken over parts of Africa and they do not have the social resources to deal with the dangerous drug epidemic .
- I appreciate your comment.
Have a great day.
People dying to escape their reality
As a tramadol addict i really feel so sorry 4 dis guys am glad am doing my best 2 stop taking tramadol now, God help me🙏🙏
Keep going and never give up 🙏🏾😘
Tramadol is literally the weakest opiate , you can just stop lmao , kratom is even stronger than tramadol
@@ivankacic2808 it's still addictive.
Have you tried talking to god?
Is tramadol addictive?
The best thing for Sierra Leone would be the legalization of cannabis. The chemical stuff they spray these herbs with are synthetic cannnabinoids mixed mostly in china. This stuff destroys the human brain over time. If they legalize cannabis, the government can make money and provide new jobs for people while the kush dealer cannot sell much anymore.
It's a nice thought but giving a kush addict weed is like giving an alcoholic a glass of water.
@@ItzJigz187 i think thats obvious but the growth of new consumers would stop
I somehow knew who was behind this because they want your resources and your country. How the hell are the people who have the richest resources have the poorest people
Thank you! They should just legalise weed and put a small tax on it.
This is heartbreaking... How does a country reach a 60% poverty rate... What is the government doing?
Stealing the money , greedy
Corruption and poor economics.
Unfortunately most countries in Africa this is the percentage of poverty
stealing all the money like most African governments
Making cash moneyyy
So heartbreaking!!! As a Ugandan it breaks my soul watching these documentaries but i love to so i can open my eyes on the real problems happening.
Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.
@@dineshbhat7978 India has plenty of problems and poverty
Excellent documentary, I pray for the victims and the heroes against drug addiction involved. I hope that counselor 's sixteen year old son, realize how much he is loved and comes off the drugs and gets help for his addiction.
Thank God they are finally talking about this. In my community, young as well as old are seriously into kush.
😭
It's so rampart here in Bo city
It is only very few youth that don't take kush
So Nigerian leaders decided to watch nigerians dying and Nigeria collapsing!? The whole world leaders fight to get Africa but african presidents do not fight to protect her! Mother Africa what is happening?
@@Flower-ck2bs erm, this is Sierra Leone.
I am white British and smoked spice/kush for 6 years. It drove me to insanity. But I beat it. Only because I had hope. These people don't have that luxury. May god be with them. ❤ Sierra Leone
Painful to watch these beautiful souls struggle with poverty and drug addiction. 💔 Where there is life there is hope. Our light will shine one-day.
The society needs to stop the stigmatization on these victims, the government and NGOs should put in place resources to assist them when they stop taking this harmful substances, it’s not only the awareness and long speeches,it will include financial support, make jobs available too.
It's not that easy...
Thank you.... They do this documentary on poor environment and they forget the reason these people are facing this terrible issue.... You see see people with their comments.... This people are victims.... And they are escaping reality with nonsense like this... Nobody talk about it
Every country should help one another. But instead the powerful politicians spend money on bombs/weapons. There is more money in war than there is in helping people get rid of addictions. It’s a sad world.
I pray one day. We will have a world without borders. Without war. Instead everyone helping one another.
@@osanomo5205 no one cares anymore, people care about what will make them popular.
@@MrHustleSwag when it will get to that point then it means humanity has been restored, it’s seems this is far fetched.
You did a wonderful work here. Great job!
It’s crazy a drug dealer himself said the police need to end the Kush trade. You know it’s a huge problem when someone like that says it needs to end.
It’s because Kush aka Spice is even cheaper than weed or any other drug so it doesn’t just send people crazy more quicker it also puts them out of business
Black Americans watching this.
We have the skills and resources to help.
We have experienced multiple drug epidemics, we know how we will be taken advantage of in these situations. The leaves come from Africa but the chemicals do not (He said it comes from abroad 👀). We need to find out what country is supplying.
Our elected leaders need to be pushed and foundations set up to send money to Africa for SPECIFIC aid and not just general aid. It's important that we are involved in the future of our continent and move resources from here to there.
The country is CHINA 🇨🇳 and they are infiltrating the content ! WE don’t have the resources are you joking? Fentanyl is tearing up the US!
@@sallyhemings2295 True! I was just about to say that.
American citizens have donated billions in aid to Africa for decades and Americans have been going to Africa for over 100 years trying to help the people there. One young girl who went there to help was dragged from her car and beaten to death by a mob. White South Africans did incredible things for African natives and look at the thanks they`ve received in return and the results of turning over control to these monsters. Look at the former Rhodesia now! There is NO WAY to help Africans!
@@mr.skeleton3190 What? What do you even mean by that?
This has absolutely nothing to do with black Americans, the American Sierra Leone community can hold their own weight
I was smoking spice for 10 years. God saved me for it. I have not smoked it over 3 years
Wow... this is so heart wrenching! Thank you @BBC News Africa. I can't help but notice the stark similarities between Sierra Leone and Nigeria where I am from. Same "tramadol" cough syrup problem, now this! So, so, disheartening.
It felt like watching my own blood brothers and sister getting wrecked by terrible addiction.
Please what can we do? Is there some way viewers can help?
What is the local government of Freetown and the Sierra Leone government as a whole saying/doing about this?
Has the African Union seen this?
Isn't there a department in the UN that should intervene with the Sierra Leone government on this?
So many sad, sad, questions running through my mind...
This whole documentary is applicable to Nigeria too. The 'kush' substance is what we call 'Colorado' or 'Colo' here, a particular type of it too is very popular. It's called 'Black Mamba' and they are synthetic cannabinoids: synthetic marijuana. They're all over the place, we even see videos surface every now and then of someone displaying madness, sometimes temporary, as a result of an overdose or something. It's 100% the same in Nigeria, maybe even worse because people are not so aware
such a sad and well done documentary. Thank you for infroming the world. Wish you a lot of strenght.
The kids also need stories directly from addicts so that they can see what it will do to them. It's one thing to see a healthy person tell them drugs are bad. It's even more powerful to see addicts and those who gave it up tell their stories first hand. Kids should be encouraged to love them and help them get healthy again.
As a Sierra Leonean this is really sad to watch.
May God see them through🙏🏾
Young people are dying everyday due to this drugs,very heartbreaking
Q: as a Sierra Leonean, how bad is it there ? Is it as bad as BBC News Africa reported, or is it just to sell news ?
Most Africa cities and countries are battling the same thing. We need to protect our future.
Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.
I'm from Senegal I pray for my brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone. West Africa as a whole should resolve this drug problem for reeal our youths deserve better .
Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.
In west Africa the woman’s have a better life and for man’s everything is responsibility’s that is not fair. This bitches why there don’t care about his sons ??
I thought I could go through the video but I couldn't. Lost a brother to this. I heard the stories but it is nothing compared to seeing.
Watch the last part where they show the recovering addicts, there is hope bro
I leave in Freetown SL 🇸🇱 the number of people I know that smoke this thing call "kush" here surpasses the number of people that do not smoke it. everything you see here in this video is true and more. it is taken by old and young people and it's very easy to get cuz it only cost Le 5000 (£0.50)a pack. People from all works of life take it including police officers, government workers, so-called influencers, artists, and the list goes on and on. for dealers, it is a really reliable source of income as they make millions and millions of Leone off just by selling it. this is a really big issue and it is harming especially the young people of this country. And worse of it all I don't see it stopping any time soon. Because the government isn't doing much to stop it anyway. so sad 😔
That’s sad. A lost generation.
It’s only weed my friend
@@bowbow1139 it laced with toxic chemicals
For S/L our own cocaine is Kusk!
@@bowbow1139 it isn’t weed at all you doughnut. This is spice, do your research holmes.
Struggling with an addiction (not drugs), I tell u it is hard to overcome... Don't start no matter the pressure. 99% of smoking comes from drug abuse
Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.
It's called kush to mislead beginners. It has nothing to do with natural ganja
I've learned so much from this documentary, and still learning so much from the very intelligent, touching, and sincere comments. Thank you all; each and all of yr comments are very enlightening. If we work with this same honesty and commitment, we can proceed to initiating and executing changes on the ground, one day at a time.
As always, powerful and heartrending reporting, Mr. Conteh. You consistently represent the challenges faced but you do not moralize or revile those who are desperate. Salone has faced so many hardships and such suffering, and I believe so deeply that Sierra Leoneans will find a better future.
My first time watching him in a news report. He’s amazing for sure! I’ll make sure to stay connected more to his work 💯
Well researched documentary. Great work!
We'll researched? This is amature level.
How is this well researched?? They didnt even mention how "spice/K2" came as a result of prohibition in the USA and the decriminalization of Cannabis forced producers to seek other markets
May God heal and bless Africa 😢💕
BBC AFRICA....you should put ways/contact information that as an audience we can help. Don't waste this platform, show us how we also can help/take action as this is a society issue so the community should also be involved in helping solve problems.
Julie Macharia Black MP David Lammy, and black comedian Lenny Henry would accuse you of white saviour syndrome, and new colonialist, if you have the temerity to help
@@marcellogenesi6390 I'm a black African, who doesn't like to see my people suffer.
I'm about People, not Politics.
Pretty foolish of the reporter to ask that woman those questions when she was in that state. Have some respect and compassion bro, you couldve waited 20 minutes for her to come down.
I have said this and I am saying this again. It breaks my heart to see the African continent like this. Africa was the place of Kings and Queens but due to slavery, colonialism, civil wars, epidemics, exploitation by the west and neo-colonialism - it seems that Africa has never caught a break. Africa has the richest countries in the world but we live below and are behind many other countries who are actually progressing.
Colonialism is the only this that destroyed African. Slavery was a source of income. The colonial countries were educating their youth while Africa was being divided.
@@Provision600 slavery propped up paper kingdoms that collapsed as soon as it was outlawed, leading to destabilisation that made colonising the continent so easy. Plus it ripped an entire population of abled bodied people that it suffered without. Every single interaction the global north has had with Africa has been detrimental. It’s honestly heartbreaking that the cradle of civilisation, a continent so rich in resources has been absolutely destroyed by outside influence.
Bro, blacks are also to blame. I reside in Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe was a autocrat and dictator, now we have an even worse president Emmerson Mnangagwa who is much worse than Mugabe and he is corrupt and the black people here are tired of it. You can't just blame the British and colonization, some black presidents are also to blame. Point blank period
@@gg-bs1ey I reside in Zimbabwe and we can also blame corrupt black Presidents for the povery, crime and corruption.
@@gg-bs1ey Yes it destroyed kingdoms but colonial countries had the factories to create more guns and bullets while the rest of the world was still living primitive.
The whole world practice slavery even native Americans. If African kingdoms traded more for guns with the Ottomans or Europeans before the great slave trade then it wouldve been harder for the colonialist.
mixture of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, formaldehyde , in the end is a big pharma business
BBC has one of the best content
This same shit is happening in Nigeria too, here they call it Colorado or black mamba. It’s ravishingly the young generation and it needs to curtain before it’s too late.
I live in Miami and we used to smoke black mamba 10 years ago before they made it illegal. Black mamba was actually kinda strong , one time I smoked a joint and went blind for 10 or 15 mins , I thought i was dying.
This is very true. I even know different users that can’t seem to let it go
This is probably k2, not actual weed
What is K2?
Not sure were it originated from, but In the US it was marketed as a synthetic marijuana. It was suppose to be safer then marijuana. It was legal until people started dying. It’s a very dangerous drug.
Definitely K2
Yea it's katy not kush they're giving kush a bad name
K2 or leaf 🌿
I think that you should include how we can help out. Like the man with two children, you can see that he is trying to be a better person and a father. I wouldn't mind buying clothes and scholastic materials for his children.
Young boys are getting epilepsy from tramadol abuse and other drugs in Ghana too
AFRICANS are supplying drugs in INDIA too.
I felt really bad for the girl who said she is addicted. I feel this fatherly kindness to her. I pray to God here, to help this baby from satanist addiction.
Thanks for the awareness ! Watching from Cameroon ! Great job 👌
As a Malian I saw both of my step brothers and childhood friend dying slowly of this drugs. It is so sad to see young people getting addicted to this garbage. I pray for them all.
This is depressing
One of my best friends is currently addicted to K2 aka kush 😢 it's heartbreaking because she expressed she wants to get clean but can't go to rehab because she can't leave her mother and daughter with her sister who a pill and cocaine addict 😩. I pray for her family for deliverance in Jesus's name; I don't know what else i can do. These drug demons are horrible 😢
Aisha's story touched me most as a female. I hope she finds the strength to quit
Struggling to get through half of this docu.. Probably won’t be able to. It’s just too sad. Praying for these young souls, there can be redemption.
I hope someone in position of authority in S/L would watch this documentary and declare a war on illicit drugs in their country .
Extreme suffering extreme poverty extreme sadness... I have no words... It's shocking.. Just.. Hell. Very upsetting .
Can you please check on them from time to time 🥺💔. It's really sad to see people lose their youth and future to drugs 😭💔
Merrrrrn and to think this country is rich in diamond, I’m an African a Ghanaian and seeing this hurts me so bad, where did we go wrong, you can be in another African country and think it doesn’t matter to you buh the reality is dah it does, things aren’t suppose to be this way for us Africans, our leaders constantly continue to fail us, they have no plans for the youth. If I have the power to change I’d change my continent Africa first, 😢😢😭😭😭😭 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Hmmmmmm GOD help Africa
So so sad, I live in Antigua 🇦🇬 and it hurts my soul to see my African brothers and sister giving up on LIFE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
@@donnatyrrell3351 I live in America and this shit is also sad. God bless Africa
Really tragic situation and hats off to all those affected who are working on overcoming their addiction. Wishing you all the best.
That guy who allegedly cut his own throat, that red staff on his chest is not blood. Whatever it might be, certainly is not blood.
Government really failed all of us in Africa o
😢
Wow this was happening like about 10 years ago in United States. People were biting each other some young kids had killed two people and buried them in the snow because they were smoking that kush synthetic weed
Yup, k2
It was K2. Wasn't 10 years. It definitely was within the last 5-8 years. They ate off ppl faces smh
I have been very confused about everyone calling this drug kush? I think in the UK it was called Spice it was a legal herb, sprayed with synthetic substances, so no relation at all to weed/marijuana. I have also never heard of K2?
@@Nimoes_archive k2 is what we basically call spice in the US. K2 is synthetic weed that was marketed as a healthier alternative but it made people go crazy
@@jide5342 Thankyou, for the info!
Only God knows the solutions to this problem in my own country Sierra Leone 🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱😭😭😭
The fact that people think taking drugs to prevent stress is actually the main cause of addiction. All this really require strong family support. If you're left alone in such world addiction becomes inevitable.
Praying for your country
Amen ❤
AFRICANS are selling drugs in INDIA too.
I was hooked on this in Florida about 6yrs ago,it's a homeless drug down there, I had to move back to Chicago my hometown to escape it,thank GOD I have family that loves me cause it was taking me down. I had so many friends who passed from that and nall! I'm Good now‼💪🏿💯
From 22:25
I personally think it’s not the mad world that people like these loose their talent to , but the reality of the Environment, the hardships, the poverty and all these numerous hardlines in the country . That’s what they loose it to , upon watching this documentary you really notice that people are using kush as a get away drug . And the million dollar question is , what are they escaping from ?, (even tho a tip of it is stated ) would they have been kush addicts if they didn’t have such a hard reality to live in ? . Would they have been kush addicts if they had a stable job , and are able to upkeep themselves ? .
People are pushed into all these self harm get away drugs. I see it As a chain effect . And if we want to win this war, we need to focus on the whole chain and find a way of breaking it , not only just focusing on the drug link in the chain
I absolutely adore him as a journalist
This is so heartbreaking. Poverty is the root of so many evils. The gospel of Christ is the ultimate answer to this darkness.
Amen sister 💕
We are a mess as the "intelligent" species, we are destroying ourselves and this once beautiful planet
Poverty and idleness is trying young Africans into embracing toxic habits (drugs). Our leaders need to rise up to their responsibilities. Create viable economies.
AFRICANS are selling drugs in INDIA also.
Man that was addicted to this for years it was just called spice when I came out here..
Took me about 2 weeks of being horribly sick to get off of it..
Such a sad situation for them to be in
So touching seeing how human we all are at the end of the day ❤️
I'm from India but seeing this breaks my heart
I'm so sad to see this. Im sure the life's of these people are not easy. And then compound the suffering with a terrible drug as this one. Good lord it's just devistating but will can cure all these pains the will to live a good sober moral prudent life I wish for them all
As a guy who came from Somalia this is a shame to see that when I was younger me and my friends use to smoke kush but I don't do it now
7:32 that a big ass lizard on the wall
Wau how u noticed 😂
That's normal in Africa. Regular size lizard.
Sadly someone is making money whilst destroying people that are already vulnerable. Who is bringing it into the country?
I’m sure the authorities know the people bringing it into the country.
Watching them makes me sooo sad..
Hoping the government will help them recover..
Fyi for all the people saying Kush is a synthetic cannabinoid, you're wrong. You're confusing it with the product Kush in the US. Kush in this part of the world refers to a mixture of fentanyl, tramadol, and marijuana. The primary ingredient that causes addiction is the fentanyl
This kush, is called Colorado in Nigeria, very bad drug destroying and making the youth run mad.
And has completely nothing to with American Colorado Kush cannabis. I ask myself why it's even called this. Propaganda at work. Spraying chemicals on paper and smoking it has nothing to do with Cannabis Sativa.
I pray all African countries eventually see the light
soon very soon
Thanks for sharing this very important video.
The guy with two kids is really talented
Great documentary.it breaks my heart to watch .
May God deliver the African youth and show mercy amen 🙏🏽
Amen 😓
Say NO to drug!!! Let’s protect ourselves, our kids, our brothers & sisters. Protect Africa!❤ Blame the politicians who are greedy to sacrifice the youth of Africa. God protect us & we pray. Amen! In Jesus name.
I nearly cried watching this documentary 😢 😭 💔
We are really losing energetic and potential youths in Sierra leone 🇸🇱 and Africa at large all in the name of Substance abuse as such. The government together with us should push to raise awareness inorder to stop the abuse 💔😭😥
Truly this needs to be stopped, this is heartbreaking 💔
The amount of poverty and unemployment in sierra leone recently is untold,that has led many youths to smoking and drinking..
Heartbreaking and sad! I would like to encourage anyone reading this, please commit to take interest in your family, community and uplift those you can. I wish we could return to the olden Afrikan ways of looking out for one another, especially the old, children and infirmed. We can improve and change our societies when we begin from our families and those in our midst.
I commit to being kind and caring for one person today and especially those I my immediate surrounding. May those suffering from addictions heal!
As a Ghanaian who has visited Sierra Leone and many of its cities several times, I watched with tears in my eyes because I can relate to this. This issue is happening openly and it's heartbreaking because this a country that has a lot of work to be done in the public health space.The drug menace has deeply rooted itself in the country. What's even more painful is that this should be a matter of national security, yet local government and leadership have chosen to focus on other things, driven by power. Although Sierra Leone may have emerged from the war, there is still much that needs to be addressed. one key question this beautiful docu was silent on was where do these drugs come from ? And what has happened to those who tried smuggling them in aside being confiscated? aah ooh lord.
The Government must stop this in our country
I pray that the gentleman quits drugs for the sake of his children's unconditional love for him. I pray for Aisha to find the courage to quit also
As an African my heart bleeds seeing this
As an human my heart bleeds seeing this too.
I just saw your BBC documentary on kusk in Sierra leone, what I did not notice you addressed is the supply side of this scourge...we can do all we can to punish these young innocent children, but if we don't tackle it at the source it's a losing battle. We are the people bringing this terrible disease to our country?