By Irene T. Bass, For the National Anti-Drug Campaign – Liberia, August 7, 2025
My Call to Every Liberian and to Our Government
As we mark this Thursday’s national “Say No to Drugs” campaign, I write not as an official, but as a deeply concerned Liberian. someone who sees the pain, the loss, and the urgency in our communities every day. Drug abuse is no longer a hidden issue. It is a national emergency that is tearing through our youth, our families, and our future.
From Monrovia to Buchanan, Ganta to Zwedru, I see young men and women brilliant, talented, full of promise falling into the grip of narcotic substances. These are not just statistics. These are our future doctors, engineers, farmers, and leaders. And instead of building Liberia, they are being consumed by addiction, crime, mental illness, and despair.
Drug Abuse Is Destroying Our Nation,according to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), drug-related offenses among youth aged 15–30 have surged over the past three years. The consequences are heartbreaking and far-reaching:
Education Dropout rates are rising as students fall into addiction, Families Homes are breaking under the weight of substance abuse, Security Drug-related crime is destabilizing our communities, our mental health services are overwhelmed . Our national goals including Vision 2030 and the ARREST Agenda are under threat
We cannot build a prosperous Liberia while drugs poison the foundation of our society.
This Is Not Just a Social Crisis It’s a Governance Crisis
I am calling on the national government, lawmakers, and civil society: treat this as the emergency it is. Substance abuse is weakening our labor force, destabilizing communities, and increasing the burden on our public institutions. If we do not act now, we risk losing an entire generation to addiction and hopelessness.
What We Must Do Together
Under the ARREST Agenda, we have a framework. Now we need action. I urge the government and all stakeholders to:
| Strategic Pillar | Urgent Action Needed |
| Sanitation & Health | Build rehabilitation centers in every major county |
| Rule of Law | Enforce stricter border controls and anti-trafficking laws |
| Education | Introduce drug prevention programs in all schools |
| Security | Strengthen community policing and dismantle drug networks |
| Youth Empowerment | Provide education, jobs, and vocational training for at-risk youth |
We also need a bold, nationwide public education campaign led by pastors, teachers, influencers, and parents to make drug use socially unacceptable and culturally rejected.
To the Youth: You Are Not Disposable
If you are struggling with drugs, hear me clearly: you are not alone. You are not a failure. You are being targeted by a destructive trade designed to keep you weak. But you have the power to say NO. Your life matters. Your future matters. Liberia needs you.
This fight is not about one day. It is about our survival. “Say No to Drugs” is not just a slogan it is a patriotic duty. We must rise above denial, politics, and indifference.
I am calling on the government, communities, and every citizen: let us rise together and protect Liberia’s soul.
References
Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Annual Reports, 2023–2024
Ministry of Health, “Substance Abuse and Mental Health in Liberia,” April 2024
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “West Africa Drug Trafficking Trends,” 2023
PAPD Framework Document, Government of Liberia, 2020
WHO Africa Region: Substance Use Disorders in Youth (2022)
