Liberian Youths are being rapidly destroyed on a daily basis by the use of illegal drugs.
The illicit use of drugs can have a significant impact on health, education, social and economic well-being, and ultimately on the development of communities and countries.
Illegal Drug use can have immediate and long-term physical and mental health consequences, including addiction, impaired cognitive function, increased risk of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and increased risk of accidents and injuries.
It appears the Liberian government headed by President George Weah has given up on the fight against the illicit use of drugs by the Youthful Liberians.
Clearly, the effect of illicit drug use by young people is graphic in the streets of the country. There is an increase in the number of wayward youths who abandoned the comfort of their parent’s homes and sleep in market stalls.
There are no indications government is doing anything to reverse this damning situation. What appears a political show was exhibited by the government a few months ago when the President launched fundraising to cater to the affected group the Weah Government called ‘Disadvantaged Youths’. That’s all. Nothing has been heard about this since the launch.
International studies show that illicit drug use has several health consequences that can lead to increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity and economic output, and reduced quality of life for the individuals affected.
In addition to the health risks, drug use can also have negative effects on education and social integration.
Drug use can lead to poor academic performance, school dropout, and reduced opportunities for employment and social mobility.
It can also lead to increased criminal behavior, including drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime, which can undermine the rule of law and stability in communities.
Overall, the illicit use of drugs by youths can have significant negative impacts on individuals, communities; and addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, treatment, and law enforcement measures.
That is true of Liberia, as communities dwellers are victimized daily with their properties snatched by criminals who sometimes ride commercial motorbikes,, home burglarized and sometimes people killed by drug users.
It is vivid in the heart of Monrovia. Machetes carrying illicit drug users would hijack people in broad daylight demanding them to surrender their handbags, phones, and monies.
Liberian Police are helpless-they are underfunded so they lack basic equipment to fight crimes. The Police director has pleaded for more support over and over, but this has fallen on deaf ears.
The agency responsible to fight illicit drug use- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is even worst than the Police-they are poorly also funded; low pay, no guns, shortage of uniforms, and a lack of vehicles. Investigation shows that a lot of the staff with the DEA are not employed.
These amongst others, even make the fight against the use of illicit drugs difficult.
While the government of President Weah is fighting to find funding for re-election, the Liberian youths who it is counting on to be re-elected, are left to die from continued drug abuse.
