Monrovia – Liberia legal practitioner, Atty. Jeremiah Dugbo, a proud alumnus of the AME University, has sounded an alarm on the growing crisis of drug abuse in Liberia, warning that the lives of many young people are being lost to dangerous substances like kush, tramadol, spark and die, as well as cocaine.
“Liberia faces a national emergency,” Dugbo declared. “Our youth are being robbed of their futures. And the tragedy is, none of them planned it. It all started with one bad choice, then another.”
Addressing the incoming class recently as Guest Speaker at the Freshmen Matriculation and Orientation Program, on the theme “Choices Matter,” Atty. Dugbo emphasized that education is not merely about books and grades, but about developing the mental strength and moral clarity to make sound decisions—especially in a society where peer pressure, poverty, and lawlessness often present dangerous alternatives.
According to him, education gives clarity, courage, and the power to choose wisely; as such, students must choose education over ignorance, choose integrity over corruption, choose resilience over shortcuts and above all, choose life over drugs.
Atty. Dugbo didn’t stop at issuing a warning. He challenged students to organize themselves and take responsibility for each other’s well-being on campus.
“I’m calling on you to form a Drug Awareness and Action Group, a student-led body that says, ‘On our watch, no student will fall silently to drug abuse.’ Let that be your legacy.”
His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause from students, faculty, and administrators, many of whom welcomed the idea of empowering students to be both scholars and advocates for change.
Liberia has seen a sharp increase in drug use among youth, particularly in urban communities and on college campuses.
While the government has made attempts to address the crisis through legislation and public awareness, experts say it will take a whole-of-society approach to stem the tide.
Substances like “kush”, a synthetic drug with devastating effects, have infiltrated communities, destroying lives and placing pressure on already limited healthcare and security systems.
“This isn’t just a personal problem,” Dugbo warned. “It’s a national threat. The dots our young people connect today will define the story of Liberia tomorrow.”
The university’s leadership praised Atty. Dugbo’s remarks noted that the message came at a critical time in the academic journey of new students.
“This is the kind of inspiration our freshmen need,” said a member of the orientation committee. “It reminds them that leadership starts now, not after graduation.”
As Liberia continues to face the ripple effects of youth disempowerment, drug dependency, and weak social systems, Atty. Dugbo’s return to AME University was not only symbolic, but also a call to action.
“You are the generation that must change the narrative,” he concluded. “If we lose this generation to drugs, we lose Liberia.”
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