In a decisive move to address the escalating drug abuse crisis in Sierra Leone, the Programs Team of Caritas Freetown has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The high-level meeting between the two institutions was driven by a shared sense of urgency to combat drug misuse particularly the growing threat posed by the synthetic drug known as Kush.
Chief Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director of the NDLEA, warmly welcomed the Caritas Freetown delegation and introduced his senior management team. Both parties acknowledged the alarming rise in drug addiction across the country and underscored the importance of coordinated, nationwide action.
“We are in a desperate situation and need all hands on deck,” Chief Kaikai stated. “This is a national crisis. As a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Kush, we recognize the importance of strategic partnerships in delivering real change.”
A key outcome of the meeting was the NDLEA’s expression of intent to work closely with Caritas Freetown by combining their respective strengths Caritas’ experience in advocacy, community engagement, and psychosocial support, with the NDLEA’s institutional authority and national mandate.
Discussions focused on several priority areas for collaboration, including: Community-based drug abuse prevention campaigns, leveraging Caritas’ grassroots network and NDLEA’s resources and expertise, motivational and psychosocial support services for recovering addicts, particularly targeting vulnerable youth, formation of a Student Anti-Drug Alliance to empower schools and communities to educate and protect students from drug misuse and joint training programs and public outreach to raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with addiction and recovery as well as strengthening civil society-government collaboration to create a sustained and unified national response to drug-related issues.
The meeting concluded with a strong mutual commitment to pool resources, coordinate strategies, and amplify their collective impact. Both organizations emphasized that the fight against drug abuse cannot be won by any single entity alone it demands unity, compassion, strategic action, and long-term commitment.
This promising partnership represents a significant step forward in Sierra Leone’s struggle against substance misuse. Caritas Freetown expressed pride in standing beside the NDLEA as a dedicated ally in the mission to protect communities and rebuild lives affected by drug addiction.