Monrovia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency’s Prevention and Community Outreach Services Section launched its ongoing awareness campaign across Montserrado County, culminating in a special event during the Henry Reeves Cooper Lecture Series at Ebenezer United Methodist Church on Lynch Street, Monrovia.
By Perry B. Zordyu, contributing writer
The event coincided with the church’s 67th-anniversary celebration on Friday, October 11, 2024. The team also visited several schools, including J.W. Harris School in Bushrold Island, D. Tweh Jr. & Sr. High School in New Kru Town, and Greater Vision Christian School, also in New Kru Town.
Addressing attendees, LDEA’s Chief of Prevention, Special Agent Grace Mulbah, and Deputy Special Agent Nyanfor highlighted the alarming increase in drug addiction among Liberia’s youth, stressing the critical need for prevention efforts, particularly within youth and religious communities.
Special Agent Mulbah emphasized the importance of early intervention through awareness campaigns, stating that prevention is more effective than cure. She underscored how drug use distorts reality for users, leading to hallucinations and behaviors such as theft and violence, which have detrimental effects on individuals and society.
Madam Mulbah urged increased investment in drug prevention initiatives, emphasizing that addiction not only harms individuals but also poses a broader societal threat.
Deputy Chief Nyanfor echoed concerns about the detrimental effects of drugs on education and the long-term health of young people. He highlighted the neurological impacts of drug use, which can lead to mental instability, brain damage, and deterioration of social relationships. Nyanfor also noted that drug use often results in social isolation, with addicts viewed as burdens to society, causing fear and mistrust within communities.
During the event, LDEA officers called upon national and international partners, as well as the broader Liberian community, to support their efforts in drug prevention. They stressed the need for enhanced education on drug abuse, increased awareness campaigns, and the establishment of rehabilitation programs, workshops, and seminars. They also encouraged churches, mosques, schools, and communities to utilize social media platforms to reach a wider audience in the fight against drugs.
The LDEA appealed to the government and civil society to prioritize mental health programs and mentorship initiatives aimed at guiding the younger generation away from the dangers of drug addiction, ensuring a safer and healthier future for all Liberians.
