By Henry N. Scere II
Mr. President,
Liberia stands at a critical turning point in its national development, and your administration deserves sincere commendation for its decisive and proactive leadership in confronting the growing challenge of substance use disorder. At a time when many nations hesitate to address this issue openly, your government has chosen action over silence—an act of courage that history will record favorably.
The Government of Liberia has demonstrated uncommon resolve through the arrest of drug users and traffickers, the dismantling of drug hideouts across the country, sustained public awareness campaigns, and—most notably—the willingness to take decisive action against public officials implicated in drug-related activities. These actions reflect a clear commitment to accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of Liberia’s youth. They send an unmistakable signal that drug abuse and corruption will not be tolerated, regardless of status or position.
Equally commendable is your bold declaration—outlined in the National Anti-Drug Action Plan (2025–2030) and reinforced in your inaugural address—that drug and substance abuse constitute a public health emergency, a moral obligation, and a national security threat. Your call to “protect the very soul of our nation” demonstrates leadership that is both visionary and grounded in reality. This level of presidential clarity places Liberia ahead of many countries in the region and creates a strong foundation for sustainable reform.
Yet, for this historic vision to be fully realized, enforcement and awareness must now be matched with structured, evidence-based treatmentsystems capable of producing long-term recovery, social reintegration, and national productivity.
Substance Use Disorder: A Health Condition, Not a Moral Failure
Substance use disorder (SUD) is neither a myth nor a sign of laziness or moral weakness. It is a scientifically recognized, chronic health condition shaped by environmental stressors, trauma, genetics, and measurable changes in brain chemistry. Global research consistently affirms that SUD is complex and multi-layered, involving biological, psychological, and social factors interacting over time.
Evidence shows that SUD includes:
- Alterations in brain circuits governing motivation, reward, and self-control
- Persistent use despite harmful personal and social consequences
- Tolerance and withdrawal that reinforce continued use
- High co-occurrence with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain
- Social vulnerability driven by poverty, stigma, and unstable environments
- Individual variability requiring personalized treatment approaches
- A chronic, relapsing course comparable to other long-term medical conditions
- Stigma and systemic barriers that delay access to care
When addiction is addressed only through punishment or political rhetoric, outcomes remain poor. When it is addressed through science, compassion, and structured care, recovery becomes attainable.
Liberia’s Strategic Opportunity to Lead the Region
As an award-winning substance use disorder counselor in the State of Minnesota (2025), trained and practicing within one of the most regulated and evidence-driven treatment systems in the world, I have followed Liberia’s national response with both concern and optimism. While political and security perspectives are necessary, they cannot substitute for technical expertise in treatment system design.
Based on my research and professional engagement across the Mano River Union, Liberia is uniquely positioned to become a regional center of excellence for substance use disorder treatment and recovery. To date, no other head of state in the subregion has publicly declared substance abuse a public health emergency at the highest level of government. This singular leadership advantage must now be translated into institutional capacity.
That translation requires specialized technical leadership—not trial-and-error, and not fragmented interventions.
Building a World-Class System of Care Requires Specialized Expertise
A comprehensive national response must be led by professionals trained specifically in substance use disorder science and systems implementation. Effective treatment does not begin with sending individuals directly to residential rehabilitation; it begins with professional assessment and clinical placement.
International best practice—such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria—uses six assessment dimensions to determine the appropriate level of care. This approach:
- Prevents overcrowding of residential facilities
- Redirects individuals to early intervention when appropriate
- Improves outcomes
- Reduces public expenditure
- Aligns national systems with global standards
Countries that have successfully implemented such systems did so by contracting experienced professionals with direct, hands-on expertise in evidence-based addiction treatment.
National Capacity, Sustainability, and Workforce Development
Long-term success requires that Liberia train and retain its own professionals. Strategic partnerships with universities to establish certificate and degree programs in Addiction Studies, counseling, and behavioral health should be embedded within the National Anti-Drug Action Plan (2025–2030).
Substance use disorder weakens workforce development, reduces productivity, and increases long-term public costs. Addressing it effectively is therefore not only a health priority—it is an economic and national development imperative.
Core Principles That Must Guide Liberia’s Treatment System
Any national treatment framework must recognize that:
Conclusion: A Clear Case for Strategic Engagement
Mr. President, your administration has demonstrated courage, resolve, and moral clarity in confronting Liberia’s drug crisis. The next phase of this national mission requires more than commitment—it requires technical precision, system design expertise, and professional leadership grounded in global best practices.
It is in this context that I respectfully but firmly submit that contracting specialized expertise such as mine would significantly strengthen the government’s ability to deliver on its stated objectives. My training, clinical experience, and system-level knowledge position me to assist Liberia in designing, implementing, and institutionalizing a treatment framework that is effective, culturally responsive, and internationally credible.
Such an engagement would not replace national leadership—it would equip it. It would reduce costly missteps, accelerate implementation, and help secure your legacy as the President who transformed Liberia’s response to addiction from enforcement alone to healing, recovery, and national renewal.
Substance use disorder is not a character flaw. It is a treatable condition. With your leadership—and the right technical partnership—Liberia can protect its youth, restore families, strengthen its workforce, and emerge as a continental leader in substance use disorder recovery and public health program.
About the Author:
Mr. Henry N. Scere, II is the award-winning substance use disorder counselor of the year 2025. He holds two master’s degrees and is a doctoral student at Bethel University. He is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of Minnesota. He is the Senior LADC facilitator of the Ramsey County Mental Health Center-Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), which is one of the federal programs in Ramsey County, the second biggest county in the State of Minnesota. Mr. Scere developed the first step-down (continued care) program in Ramsey County. Mr. Scere has presented at the Minnesota Counseling Association annual and at the spring and annual conferences at the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH). His areas of interest in substance use disorder are relapse prevention, the impact of spirituality in the recovery process and managing relationships during recovery. Mr. Scere is an ordained minister of the Gospel with a passion for spirituality in recovery.
