West Africa on Throes of Struggles Rising Drug Demand, Addiction Crisis
West Africa is facing an escalating drug crisis, with addiction rates surging among young people and governments declaring emergencies as synthetic substances like kush, opioids, and methamphetamine spread rapidly across the region.
Once regarded mainly as a transit hub for international traffickers, the subregion has become a major consumer market.
Recent reports from ECOWAS and the West Africa Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) show that in 2023 alone, over 83,000 kilograms of drugs and 31,000 tablets were seized across 11 countries.
In Sierra Leone, where authorities declared a national emergency earlier this year, officials say hundreds of young people have died or suffered severe psychiatric damage linked to kush, a street drug often laced with cannabis, opioids, and toxic substances.
Similar trends are emerging in Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria, where overstretched health systems struggle to cope with a surge in addiction cases.
Public health experts warn that weak rehabilitation facilities and limited mental health services have left most addicts without access to proper treatment.
In many countries, private or charitable centres are the only option, often beyond the reach of poor communities.
ECOWAS has launched campaigns linking drug abuse to mental health awareness, while also pushing for stronger collaboration among member states to harmonize laws, expand treatment centres, and strengthen border controls.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified seizures and crackdowns, but porous borders and corruption continue to fuel trafficking networks.
Analysts say the root causes go beyond supply. Poverty, unemployment, and disillusionment among West Africa’s youth have created fertile ground for drug consumption, turning what was once a hidden problem into a public health and social emergency.
Despite regional cooperation and growing awareness, experts caution that without tackling the socio-economic drivers of addiction, West Africa’s struggle with rising drug demand may continue to deepen.
