Will Saying No to Drugs on August 7 Truly End the Drug Crisis in Liberia?
By Y. Solomon W. Watkins, a journalist, advocate for human rights and accountability
On August 7, Liberia will once again rally around the call to “Say No to Drugs”, a campaign intended to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and inspire collective action to combat the growing crisis. The campaign is commendable. It reflects a national effort to awaken our conscience to the devastating effects of narcotics on our youth, communities, and the future of our nation.
But as we prepare our posters, wear our campaign T-shirts, and march through the streets with good intentions, we must ask the uncomfortable but necessary question: Will saying “No” to drugs be enough to actually end the drug problem in Liberia?
The drug issue in Liberia is deeply complex. It is not simply a matter of personal choice or peer pressure. It is entangled in poverty, unemployment, corruption, weak border controls, and a fragile justice system. While advocacy is a powerful tool, it must be matched with systemic, long-term strategies that address the root causes and networks that sustain the drug economy.
Liberia has witnessed an alarming rise in drug trafficking and consumption in recent years. Synthetic drugs like kush and tramadol are destroying the lives of young people. Many are trapped in ghettos (unfinished buildings) not just because of addiction, but because of hopelessness and lack of opportunity. Others are recruited into trafficking because it presents one of the few avenues for income in a tough economy. Simply telling them to say “No” without offering a real alternative is unrealistic and even unfair.
Moreover, there are questions about how drugs continue to flow into our ports and communities. Who is allowing these substances in? Who is profiting? What systems are in place, or not in place, to hold these actors accountable?
While answers to these questions still remain unaddressed, we do believe that if the below recommendations, as outlined, as practical solutions, are considered, the war against drugs in Liberia will have lasting meaning:
Practical solutions beyond slogans
- Strengthen Drug Law Enforcement, But With Integrity
It is not enough to have laws on paper. Authorities must be properly trained, resourced, and monitored to carry out their duties without fear or favor. Border patrols and customs officers must be held accountable to stop the inflow of drugs.
- Invest in Rehabilitation, Not Just Arrests
Addicts are not criminals; they are victims of a broken system. Liberia needs more rehabilitation centers, mental health support, and reintegration programs to help people recover and rebuild their lives.
- Create Economic Alternatives for Youth
Vocational training, entrepreneurship, and job creation should be a top priority. If young people have access to opportunities, they are less likely to fall into the trap of drugs or trafficking networks.
- Community Empowerment and Education
Awareness campaigns must go beyond a one-day event. Schools, churches, mosques, and community leaders must be continuously engaged to educate the public about drugs and to provide safe spaces for dialogue and healing.
- Political Will and Policy Reform
Most importantly, the government must show the political will to implement reforms that go after the big players, not just the small-time users or street-level dealers. A national drug policy must be effectively resourced and independently monitored.
To this end, while we support the August 7 “Say No to Drugs” campaign, let it not be a symbolic ritual without real substance. Let us match our words with actions. Let us demand more than slogans. Because saying “No” to drugs is not just a chant—it must become a comprehensive national strategy backed by law, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.
Only then can we begin to imagine a Liberia where drugs no longer define the destiny of our youth.
https://shorturl.fm/4kyuL