Fondation Hirondelle

Sierra Leone’s Consultant psychiatrist in the health ministry, Dr Edward Nahim says a Chinese made tea, locally called “Attaya’” is a “very dangerous drug.” Dr. Nahim told CTN that the tea contains alkaloid- a mixture of gunpowder and caffeine.

 

He said the consumption of Attaya has rendered most youth mentally challenged.

The psychiatrist said the consumption of the substance has become a widespread habit in many West African nations.

Dr Nahim said “it is difficult to curtail the practice because there is no legislation guiding the practice.”

But some youth people in Freetown argue that the tea energises them to undertake certain tasks and helps them in their studies.

A popular local musical group ‘Hard Life’ in one of its recent songs titled "Borku Talk" lashed out at Attaya tea consumers as people who spend long hours drinking and talking without doing anything productive.