Freetown – At a weekly press conference on 12 May 2026, officials from the National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse (NaFDsA) revealed that more than 3,000 individuals, including children, are now registered on the national drug abuse database, underscoring the scale of the crisis in Sierra Leone.
Ansumana Konneh, Pillar Lead for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, described the figures as deeply worrying.
He reported that approximately 784 young people have so far completed rehabilitation and reintegration programmes run by the Task Force. Rehabilitation centres in Kono and Makeni are currently each accommodating about 50 victims.
The Task Force was established following President Julius Maada Bio’s declaration of a State of Emergency on drug and substance abuse in April 2024. It operates through five pillars: community engagement, awareness raising, care and treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration, and law enforcement.
Rehabilitation facilities are now operational in PMTC, Dongo, Daru, Gannamabu, Kono, and Makeni, Konneh said.
Highlighting the family dimension of the problem, Konneh noted that many young people gain access to drugs through adults and family members. He pointed to troubling cases where some parents allegedly sell or prepare drugs inside their homes, describing drug addiction as a serious child protection and safeguarding issue.
“Irresponsible parenting has become a major contributor to this crisis,” Konneh stressed. He urged families to closely monitor behavioural changes in their children and seek immediate assessment and treatment support from the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Konneh added that consultations on a proposed religious policy are still ongoing, with no official policy yet finalised.
He also emphasised the critical role of women in prevention, recovery, and reintegration efforts to shield communities from the growing threat of drug and substance abuse.
