Poverty and its consequences have a cyclical relationship to drug and alcohol abuse, for once someone is in the cycle, it is tough to break to out. Especially in Sierra Leone – West Africa where there is no support services for drug users.
Substance abuse and alcohol are major factors that contribute to a downward economic spiral for some people. A continuing pattern of self–destruction for many adolescents and adults can result in poverty – homelessness and untreated physical and mental illness. The individuals struggle on the margins of society where basic needs may go unmet. Substances offer temporary respite from the reality of life, poverty, and addiction.
The BBC documentary done by a Sierra Leonean, on the abuse of drugs amongst the young people in Sierra Leone and frequently shown on the national broadcaster SLBC is the true reality of the compounding problem we are facing with our growing youthful population twenty good years after the 11 years of brutal civil war.
Truth to be told that documentary is the tip of the ice bag. Considering the numerous drug abuse outlets in our big cities and how the “various” drug abuse has spread to our big towns and the smallest hamlet across our country.
The illegal drug business is one of the fastest lucrative businesses currently in West Africa, their criminal network is very strong and very powerful with people from various backgrounds involved – those of influence and affluence, thus comprised by some law enforcement officers has increased. Though tougher laws are in place both international and local yet rape has refused to decrease because most times it’s committed by those under the influence of drug and or substance abuse. This has resulted in the increased of call girls on every street Conner in all our cities, big towns, and the smallest villages because prostitution and drug abuse or substance abuse are bedfellows, their strong partnership makes them flourish with dangerous consequences on the young people as those under the influence of drugs or substance abuse are often in multiple unprotected sexual intercourses, they don’t care about the age of their sex partners they can therefore have sex with majors under of the influence of drugs or substance abuse – most times insects, sadly families, guardians, relatives protect them and victims are forced to pretend it even happen, with pregnancy the young girls are forced from home, with nobody to listen to their story, and help them get the justice they become the hundreds of fresh recruit call-girls for their survival and that of their dear child. Some have no alternative but join their peasant parent neither on their substance farms or gardens. Some join their parents in the market as petty traders -sailing fruits, and vegetable fish to name but a few and doing all kinds of odd jobs as a means of eking their livelihood, as their dreams are shattered they have joined the cycle of poverty, and they and their children will wallow in it till Gods know when.
Young men often drop out of high school and higher institutions of leading, those who are fortunate to have achieved their educational goals and get good jobs but joined the bad habit of drug and substance abuse, often slip into addiction, therefore, can’t perform to expectations of their employers, get the sack, their families crumble, aliment. Their internal organs and mental aliment sent them to earl graves or left them useless for life thus compounding poverty in the family, the community, and the nation at large
Saa Matthias D BENDU
