– Women’s Legislative Caucus Chair Proposes
Monrovia – Margibi County District #3 Representative and Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Ellen A. Attoh-Wreh, has called for increased funding for drug rehabilitation programs in Liberia, warning that the nation’s youth are facing a growing epidemic of substance abuse.
“Liberia must increase funding for drug rehabilitation,” Attoh-Wreh noted in a recent article, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger mental health services and rehabilitation centers to address the crisis. Over the past decade, Liberia has seen a sharp rise in narcotics use, particularly among young people. A 2023 report from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) revealed that 60% of drug-related arrests involve individuals aged 15 to 30, with marijuana, tramadol, kush (a deadly synthetic drug), and cocaine being the most commonly abused substances.
The crisis has hit urban areas hardest, particularly Monrovia, where an estimated 866 drug dens operate openly. A 2023 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) study found that one in five Liberian youth uses narcotics, with synthetic drugs like kush—often laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine—causing severe mental and physical health deterioration.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reported in 2023 that 35% of mental health cases in urban clinics involved young people with substance abuse disorders. Tramadol abuse has been linked to seizures and neurological damage, while kush users suffer from hallucinations, aggression, and suicidal tendencies. The E.S. Grant Mental Hospital in Monrovia has seen a surge in psychiatric admissions tied to drug addiction.
Education has also suffered, with the Ministry of Education and UNICEF reporting in 2024 that drug abuse accounts for 20% of school dropouts in Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties. With 70% of Liberia’s population under 35, the long-term implications for national development are dire.
Recognizing the severity of the crisis, President Joseph Boakai declared drug abuse a national public health emergency in early 2024, establishing a multi-sectoral task force and allocating $3.5 million in the 2024 and 2025 budgets for youth programs, including the “Kush Must Go” initiative.
The government also passed the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (2023), which imposes stricter penalties on traffickers while promoting a health-centered approach to addiction. NGOs like Don Bosco Homes and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia are conducting outreach programs, counseling, and vocational training to help at-risk youth.
Despite these efforts, Attoh-Wreh argues that Liberia’s rehabilitation infrastructure remains critically underfunded, with fewer than five functional rehab centers nationwide. She urges full implementation of the 2016 National Mental Health Policy, increased investment in mental health professionals, and expanded vocational training to provide alternatives to drug use.
Additionally, she advocates for stronger border controls to curb drug trafficking, stricter pharmacy regulations to prevent misuse of prescription drugs like tramadol ad nti-drug education in school curricula to promote early prevention. “A nation whose youth are incapacitated by addiction cannot achieve sustainable development,” Attoh-Wreh warned. “This fight must be a national priority—or we risk losing an entire generation.”
