A recent report released by an anti-transnational crime group has shed light on the core chemical components of kush, a synthetic drug that has been rapidly spreading through Sierra Leone and neighboring West African countries in recent years. The report, conducted by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, conducted the first known testing of common varieties of kush available in the region and identified the presence of either nitazenes or synthetic cannabinoids.
The report highlighted that nitazenes, potent synthetic opioids, have been increasingly prevalent in global drug markets, with alarming rates of fatalities associated with their use. In fact, in countries like Estonia and Latvia, a significant percentage of drug-related deaths have been attributed to nitazenes, with one particular nitazene detected in kush being 25 times more potent than fentanyl.
