Hazardous Substances
Kush (West African Synthetic Drug)
Street names: Kush, Kush (Sierra Leone), K2-kush
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Intense stupefying high; users freeze in unnatural poses ('zombie' videos)
⚠Key risks
- Lab tests found synthetic cannabinoids, nitazene opioids and even tramadol in different batches — every batch is a lottery
- Mass hospitalizations and deaths; users dying young
- Cheap and everywhere — fastest-growing drug crisis in West Africa
✚Overdose signs
- Frozen, unresponsive postures
- Slow breathing
- Collapse, seizures
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kush (West African Synthetic Drug) | Illegal; composition varies by batch | Lab tests found synthetic cannabinoids, nitazene opioids and even tramadol in different batches — every batch is a lottery; Mass hospitalizations and deaths; users dying young | ~$0.20–$1 per joint — priced for the poorest users |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Kush (West African Synthetic Drug) look like?
Green/brown herbal smoking mix — swept Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Gambia from 2022
What are the signs of a Kush (West African Synthetic Drug) overdose?
Frozen, unresponsive postures; Slow breathing; Collapse, seizures Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Lab tests found synthetic cannabinoids, nitazene opioids and even tramadol in different batches — every batch is a lottery Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.