At Int'l Drug Day Commemoration, GASD Raises Alarm Over Liberia’s Growing Drug Crisis, Calls for Urgent National Strategy”
- Media Unit
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Monrovia, Liberia – June 26, 2025
In a powerful show of unity and determination, the Global Action for Sustainable Development (GASD) and its partners on June 25, 2025, convened the 3rd Annual Youth Policy Dialogue on Drug Prevention in Liberia, aligning with the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The high-level national event brought together policymakers, public health experts, civil society leaders, youth advocates, and development partners under the theme “Empowering Youth, Strengthening Prevention: A United Liberia Against Drug Abuse.”
This landmark gathering served as a platform for dynamic and solution-oriented dialogue focused on combating the growing drug crisis in Liberia—particularly its impact on young people. Participants engaged in rich discussions that generated a unified call for action: to advance youth-centered, evidence-based policies that prioritize prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery.
The dialogue emphasized the duality of Liberia’s youth: disproportionately vulnerable to drug use yet uniquely positioned as agents of change in the national fight against substance abuse. From panel discussions to policy brainstorming sessions, the event reinforced the urgent need for inclusive, community-led strategies to mitigate the social, economic, and public health impacts of drug use.
Mr. Christopher S. Bangaou, in his program overview, highlighted that as drug abuse in Liberia becomes increasingly tied to poverty, unemployment, mental health issues, and crime, national strategies must go beyond awareness-raising. He stressed the importance of holistic, youth-informed, and intergenerational approaches grounded in lived experience and data.
For his part, Attorney Siaffa Bahn Kemokai II, Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice, delivered a compelling keynote address emphasizing the legal dimensions of drug prevention. He called for stronger legal remedies to tackle drug trafficking and distribution networks while protecting the rights and welfare of young users. His remarks underscored the need to balance enforcement with access to justice, treatment, and rehabilitation.
In her presentation, Mrs. Abigal B.L. Freeman, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Peace, Justice and Human Rights (APJHR), focused on “Substance Abuse and Young Women: A Gender-Sensitive Approach to Prevention and Support.” She highlighted how young women face unique vulnerabilities—often shaped by trauma, exploitation, and social stigma. Freeman stressed the need for prevention programs to incorporate gender sensitivity, access to mental health and reproductive services, and safe spaces for support. "Prevention that ignores gender is prevention that fails," she asserted.
Mr. Brehnev D. Paasewe, Program Manager for Peace and Security at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), addressed the theme “Strengthening Drug Prevention as a Pillar for Peace and Security in Liberia.” He argued that substance abuse undermines national stability, fuels youth violence, and disrupts social cohesion. Paasewe called for a robust national prevention framework anchored in community resilience, youth empowerment, and peacebuilding principles to counter the root causes of drug use and create sustainable alternatives for Liberia’s at-risk youth.
Also contributing to the dialogue, Aaron Debeh, Substance Use Disorder Focal Person at the Ministry of Health, delivered a presentation on “Breaking the Cycle: Integrating Mental Health Support into Drug Prevention Strategies for Sustainable Youth Empowerment.” He emphasized that substance abuse and mental health challenges are interlinked and must be addressed in tandem. Debeh advocated for school-based mental health programs, trained counselors, and expanded community support networks to reduce stigma and ensure early intervention.
GASD Executive Director James Koryor issued a formal statement on June 26, urging the Government of Liberia to declare substance abuse a public health emergency and to develop a National Drug Prevention Strategy rooted in evidence, community engagement, and cultural relevance.
"Prevention must start in our schools, churches, mosques, and communities," Koryor declared. "We call for real investment in treatment centers, mental health services, and long-term rehabilitation. Liberia must shift from punitive drug policies to those based on public health and human dignity."
GASD, find it deeply concerning that the Government of Liberia has failed to treat drug abuse as a national public health emergency. A fragmented approach, combined with the lack of a clear national rehabilitation strategy, continues to endanger the lives and futures of thousands of vulnerable citizens. Koryor noted.
He called for legislative reform to protect the rights of drug users, end criminalization, and prioritize access to education, housing, employment, and social services. “The time to act is now,” Koryor emphasized, “before another generation is lost.”
The event concluded with the signing of a Joint Youth Resolution by participants, reinforcing their commitment and calling on the Government of Liberia to treat substance abuse as a national emergency. The resolution:
Expressed concern over the psychological, social, and economic impacts of drug use on Liberia’s youth;
Recognized the urgent need for prevention policies that reflect Liberia’s youthful demographic;
Acknowledged the rising substance use crisis as a threat to national development and security;
Demanded that future responses be evidence-based, youth-inclusive, and rights-centered.
As the world marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Liberia’s youth have made their stance clear: the fight against drug abuse must be fought not only with laws but with compassion, education, and empowerment. The 3rd Annual Youth Policy Dialogue marks a critical turning point in ensuring that young voices drive the transformation of Liberia’s drug prevention landscape—today and for generations to come.
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