A powerful testimony from a reformed drug addict moved a hall of 300 young Liberians to tears on Wednesday, as he urged his peers to “never touch this poison” and break the cycle of substance abuse ravaging communities across the country.
The event in Monrovia formed part of a parliamentary delegation’s nationwide anti-drug awareness campaign.
Young participants from across the capital engaged in open dialogue with lawmakers on confronting Liberia’s deepening drug crisis.
“Drugs destroy not just individuals, but entire families and communities,” one participant said, recounting how addiction has forced friends out of school, into gangs, and in some cases, to their deaths.
The youth condemned drug cartels for targeting vulnerable communities and outlined the consequences of narcotics abuse — from psychiatric disorders and rising crime to school dropouts and gang recruitment.
They called for government action on root causes, including poverty alleviation, education investment, job creation, prevention programs, and rehabilitation support.
Minister of Youth and Sports described the crisis as a national health emergency, pledging to combine health, justice, education, and community engagement in tackling the issue.
He cited projects such as awareness drives, rehabilitation of reintegration centers, and the construction of a neuropsychiatric hospital.
An interministerial task force — including the Ministries of Health, Justice, Youth and Sports, Gender and Social Protection, Finance and Development Planning, and the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency — is coordinating nationwide measures.
The event ended with a symbolic two-kilometer march through Monrovia under the rallying cry: “No to drugs, yes to life.”
Reporting by Sandra Chukwugekwu