Freetown, 20th October 2025- Sierra Leone’s fight against drug addiction is facing a critical setback as government-run rehabilitation centres remain closed due to lack of funding, leaving thousands of vulnerable young people without access to lifesaving care.
Ansumana Konneh, Director of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services at the Ministry of Social Welfare, confirmed to Truth Media that all operational rehab centres have shut down, with no resources currently available from government or partners to sustain services.
“If we continually rehabilitate, we can save lives,” Konneh said. “Young people are vulnerable, and they are out there perishing. Rehabilitation plays a key role.”
Konneh revealed that during a previous closure between September 2024 and February 2025, several individuals on the waitlist died before they could be admitted.
“We had people ready for treatment, but by the time we reached out to their families, some had already passed away,” he said.
The last batch of patients was discharged in July 2025. Since then, centres in Hastings and Gondama have remained empty, and the planned facility in Daru is yet to open. The Ministry says it can only admit patients in batches of 50 when funding is available, a model that has left dangerous gaps in care.
Despite President Bio’s declaration of a national emergency in early 2024, intended to mobilize resources and strengthen partnerships, the impact has been limited. Only 400 individuals have received rehabilitation and psychosocial support since the declaration, while data suggests that over 5,000 people are in need of urgent intervention.
“That’s a drop in the ocean,” Konneh said. “If we are serious about fighting this crisis, more resources must be allocated.”
The Chairman of the National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse has reportedly committed funds to support the admission of 40 young people at the Daru centre. However, other facilities remain unfunded and inactive.
“We started with Hastings in February 2024, but admissions stopped due to resource constraints,” Konneh explained. “The demand is overwhelming, and the available services are grossly inadequate.”
As the drug crisis continues to claim lives and destabilize communities, experts warn that without sustained investment in rehabilitation and psychosocial support, Sierra Leone risks losing an entire generation to addiction.
The Ministry of Social Welfare is calling on government, development partners, and civil society to prioritize funding for treatment centres and expand outreach efforts.
“This is not just a health issue, it’s a national emergency,” Konneh said. “We must act now.”
