TUMA Foundation, an organization dominance with youth in Paynesville City, has buttressed the stance of the Government of Liberia (GOL) on narcotic drug campaign with a negative aftermath message illicit drugs have on users to the youthful population and adults.
“Drug abuse is a silent thief that steals dreams, destroys families, and shatters lives. It may begin as curiosity, but it often ends in pain, regret, and loss,” Alexis G. Flomo, a teen keynote speaker for TUMA Foundation on International Drug Day, said. “Drugs promise pleasure, but deliver pain.”
The program, held on July 26, 2026 at Victory Center International School, Paynesville City, brought together youths from diverse backgrounds who learned the danger of illicit drugs and promised to serve as ambassadors for ant-drugs campaign in their various localities.
TUMA Foundation is a youth-driven organization that preaches anti-drug message, organizes youth engagements, sanitation program, and so on, in Paynesville City, its environs and elsewhere
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, is observed annually on June 26. It is established by the United Nations, and it aims to raise global awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, combat illegal drug trafficking, and promote preventive actions and compassionate treatment for substance use disorders.
Since Liberia’s civil war subsided, narcotic drugs have pierced the society, having negative impact on youths and adults. As they fall prey to the substance abuse, they have become riffraff, abandoning homes and families, dwelling in cemeteries and promoting crime by snatching phones, stealing, prostituting, armed-robbing, burglarizing homes for valuables to satisfy their drug habit.
Based upon this, the nation is holistically combating narcotic drug, as with the current dreadful US$19 million drug bust investigation, which the government has vowed to crackdown on nationwide with citizens’ collaboration.
The Liberia Drug Agency has called all hands on deck to combat narcotic drugs, urging the Ministry of Education for anti-drug awareness to be part of the country’s education curriculum.
With this mandate, TUMA Foundation is leaving no stone unturned, using the opportunity and fostering anti-drug campaigns in Paynesville City and some parts of Montserrado County.
Illicit drugs, as a menace, cause student to lose the desire to learn, workers to lose the income they earn, families to cry and mothers to weep.
“No drug can give what true purpose can bring, and no substance can make your future sing,” Keynote speaker Flomo said. “Real strength is found in saying ‘No’ to drugs.”
TUMA Foundation’s Program Officer, Lawrence Dayougar, warned the youths to hate narcotic drugs and be good citizens.
“We are working with students to encourage them to say ‘no to drug’ and ‘substance abuses’,” Dayougar said. “If someone sends you to buy liquor, cigarette, opium, say no.”
He added that obeying those orders from people will eventually make them become drunkards, smokers and drug addicts, and will kill their education dream.
However, former drug user Ambassador Anthony J. Nimley stated that he did not have the guidance opportunity as TUMA Foundation is providing for the students, smoking drugs for 12 years.
“I was rejected by my parents and the society for 12 years. People called me zogo [street thug] because of drugs,” Ambassador Nimley said. “It started in the classroom with my friends, and peer pressure landed me in it.”
