Liberia is facing a growing public health emergency one that we can no longer afford to ignore, a recent research has established.
Across the streets of Monrovia and beyond, a silent crisis is unfolding: the rise of mental illness, fueled by the escalating abuse of dangerous substances.
It is a reality that is claiming the lives and futures of our young people, devastating families and undermining the fabric of our society.
Walk through any major street in the capital, and the evidence stares at you, young men and women, often reduced to the label mentally deranged “crazy people,” wander in distress neglected, homeless and uncared for; many of these individuals are victims, not criminals, though some are under police surveyance for pick pocketing.
Victims of trauma, poverty, unemployment and above all, drug addiction.
The availability of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and synthetic narcotics has reached frightening levels with the coming of Kush on the market.
These substances are now sold openly in communities, fueling the rise of ghettos that serve as breeding grounds for addiction and violence.
Families are being torn apart. Communities live in fear. The nation bleeds quietly.
The most affected are our youth commonly referred to as “Zogos.”
Many are products of a broken system that has failed to provide education, economic opportunity, or mental health support.
They sleep in abandoned buildings, survive as scavengers (dump pile hero) or by begging, and often engage in crime not from choice, but from desperation and addiction.
As one young man told me, “I’m tired. There’s nothing for us.” His voice echoes the despair of thousands more.
This is more than a public health issue; it is a national emergency. Yet, the silence from our policymakers and institutions is deafening.
Where are the functional rehabilitation centers? What coordinated plan does the government have to rescue these citizens and reintegrate them into society?
What role is the Ministry of Health playing? Where is the Ministry of Gender and social protecting vulnerable young women, many of whom fall into toxic relationships with drug dealers in exchange for survival?
Shockingly, allegations abound that some community leaders and even law enforcement officers are complicit taking bribes, protecting drug traffickers and turning a blind eye.
How can we fight this war when those meant to protect us are allegedly aiding the enemy?
Meanwhile, politicians emerge during election seasons with promises and quick-fix programs, only to vanish once the votes are cast.
But Liberia doesn’t need campaign gimmicks; It needs real, sustained action. We must move beyond slogans and confront the hard truths.
Mental illness and drug addiction are not fringe issues.
They are at the heart of our national decline. These crises threaten our health system, our education sector, our economy, and our national security. It’s time to declare an all-out war on this growing menace.
Prioritize national investment in mental health services and addiction recovery programs
Establish community-based care and outreach centers across the country.
Enforce strict laws against drug trafficking, with full accountability for enforcement agencies; Offer vocational training, job creation and reintegration pathways for at-risk youths.
Protect young women from being exploited in drug-driven relationships.
Every Liberian deserves dignity, care and a second chance. We owe it to our nation to our children and to the future.
The time to act is now before we lose an entire generation to drugs and untreated mental illness.
This crisis demands the collective responsibility of all sectors: journalists, doctors, civil society leaders, religious institutions, educators, law enforcement and politicians.
History will judge us not by how much we knew, but by how much we did.
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