The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has concluded a week-long awareness mission in Monrovia, Liberia, aimed at addressing the growing crisis of drug abuse and mental health challenges across the region, held from August 4 to 8 2025.
The mission brought together a delegation of ECOWAS Parliament members who engaged in high-level consultations with key stakeholders, including sectoral ministries, healthcare professionals, civil society groups, and youth organizations. The initiative also involved outreach visits to communities in Monrovia grappling with high rates of substance abuse.
During the mission, stakeholders underscored the escalating impact of drug addiction, which is not only a public health emergency but also a critical threat to national security, social cohesion, and economic progress.
In response, the ECOWAS Parliament called for a comprehensive, regionally coordinated strategy focused on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The mission further urged the Liberian government to prioritize youth employment, enhance educational opportunities, and expand access to quality healthcare.
This campaign follows similar engagements conducted in Conakry, Guinea, and Freetown, Sierra Leone in June 2025, as part of a broader ECOWAS initiative to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to assist member states in combating drug abuse and its associated challenges.
