39 Rehabilitated Drug Users Discharged from Daru Centre

Sierra Leone's Ministry of Social Welfare (MSW), in collaboration with partner organizations, successfully oversaw the discharge of another cohort of 39 rehabilitated drug users from the Daru Moa Barracks Rehabilitation Centre in Kailahun District on December 16, 2025. 

This action is part of the Ministry’s intensified strategy to combat drug and substance abuse, particularly the destructive substance "Kush," a challenge Minister Melrose Karminty has likened to the national battles against COVID-19 and Ebola.

The discharged individuals, who underwent months of intensive therapy, are now viewed as "ambassadors of change" in the fight against addiction. The MSW’s comprehensive approach includes specialized treatment and psychosocial support, inter-agency and NGO collaboration, promotion of non-stigmatizing community reintegration, and provision of support for further education and vocational training to ensure long-term societal integration.

This initiative underscores the government's commitment to offering a second chance to young people, aged 15 to 25, recognizing their potential to contribute positively to national development. 

Following expert evaluation, these survivors are poised to assume positive roles within their communities, with partners like the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education reaffirming commitment to readmitting former pupils into educational institutions.