A moving testimony from a reformed drug addict brought emotional resonance to an anti-drug campaign event in Monrovia on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Speaking to over 300 young people from across the capital, the young man recounted his journey through addiction and recovery, urging his peers never to fall prey to what he called the “poison” of drugs.
The youth-focused awareness event, held as part of a nationwide anti-drug initiative, featured an interactive session with a visiting parliamentary delegation. Participants voiced deep concerns about the devastating impact of drug abuse on their generation, highlighting issues such as:
Mental health deterioration, including widespread psychiatric disorders
Recruitment into gangs and trafficking networks, especially in low-income areas
Rising youth delinquency, marked by theft and violent crimes
Alarming school dropout rates, particularly in underserved communities
Calling for urgent government intervention, the youth demanded expanded access to education, job creation programs, and comprehensive prevention and rehabilitation strategies aimed at restoring vulnerable lives.
Addressing the gathering, Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports declared drug addiction a national health emergency, acknowledging the far-reaching consequences on the country’s development. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment through a multipronged approach that includes:
Intensified public sensitization campaigns
Major upgrades to social and vocational reintegration centers
Construction of a dedicated neuropsychiatric hospital
Furthermore, an interministerial task force has been formed to coordinate nationwide anti-drug efforts. It includes representatives from the Ministries of Health, Justice, Youth and Sports, Gender and Social Protection, Finance and Development Planning, and the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency.
Before the main event, participants marched two kilometers through Monrovia’s streets, holding banners and chanting messages of hope and resistance. Their collective slogan: “No to Drugs, Yes to Life”, echoed the renewed spirit of a generation determined to reclaim its future.
