AYV News, May 14, 2026
The Pillar Lead for Rehabilitation and Reintegration at the National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse (NaTFDSA), Ansumana Kanneh, has disclosed that approximately 784 individuals have benefited from drug rehabilitation and reintegration programmes conducted through five rehabilitation centres established across Sierra Leone.
According to Mr. Kanneh, 88 percent of the beneficiaries are male, while 12 percent are female, reflecting the growing impact of substance abuse among young men in the country.
He explained that the rehabilitation centres, located in Hastings, Daru, Bo, Kono, and Makeni, provide treatment, counselling, rehabilitation, and reintegration support services for individuals battling addiction.
Mr. Kanneh attributed the increasing drug abuse crisis largely to the breakdown of family structures and inadequate parental supervision.
He expressed concern that in some cases, parents themselves are allegedly involving children in drug-related activities, describing the trend as alarming and harmful to national development.
The NaTFDSA official urged parents and guardians to take greater responsibility in protecting, guiding, and monitoring their children in order to prevent them from becoming victims of drug abuse and criminal behaviour.
He stressed that addressing Sierra Leone’s growing drug crisis requires a collective national response involving families, communities, schools, religious institutions, and government agencies working together to support vulnerable young people and strengthen social values.
Mr. Kanneh reaffirmed the Task Force’s commitment to expanding rehabilitation and reintegration services nationwide while intensifying public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing substance abuse and promoting healthy lifestyles among young people.
