
MONROVIA – YMCA- Liberia has called on the government through the Liberian Senate to take a drastic and practical approach to enact laws aimed at combating illicit drugs and their trafficking in the country.
This year’s theme primarily focused on “People First: Stop Stigma, Discrimination, Strengthening Prevention.”
Accordingly, the issue of illicit drug intake remains a complex problem which affects millions of people around the world with Liberia being no exception as such, it remains committed to acting and supporting policies that will effect change and curb the negative impact drugs pose to the survival of young people.
Reading the statement in observance of International Drugs Day, YMCA-Liberia National Youth Council President, Ebenezer Davis emphasized the importance to increase awareness of the illicit trafficking of drugs and harmful substances as well as strengthen actions and cooperation in achieving a world free of drugs.
Said Davis: “We regret to inform you that we are losing the war focused on protecting the future. The value possessed by every youth cannot be harnessed with the prevalence of drug abuse. The value in our youth cannot yield results when the ghettoes become recreational centers for our young people. The future we foresee in the youth of tomorrow is crumbling because of the effects of drugs.”
“Kush has become a name in common places for the wrong reason, it would interest you to note that Liberia has turned into a significant transit point of illicit narcotics. Our borders are porous, limited logistics supplies for law enforcers, the issues of security trust, abuse of power, no stringent law to curb the abuse and importation”, Davis asserted
The YMCA Youth Leader emphasized that stakeholders and Politicians should also provide the platform to educate first-time voters about harmful substances through actions that provide more information to discourage participation involvement.
However, Davis also called on the Liberian government through the Ministry of Education, the National Parents and Teachers Associations, and Civil society organizations to assess the possibility to include in the national curriculum, the awareness of illicit drugs and substance abuse to enhance youth understanding of threats, the risks, and discuss grassroots solutions that discourage drug abuse.
He said the fight against the prevalence of illicit drugs and substance abuse among the youth of Liberia reflects a low-scale involvement while calling for a speedy and critical review that will serve as real-life happenings for reform in the drugs policy and the passage of the National Drugs Law to justify the national approach.
“We caution that the law also covers with harsh punishment for law enforcers, lawmakers who work directly and indirectly to contravene the laws for profit, greed, and interest to rebuild the image of the country, we at the YMCA see illicit drugs and substance abuse as a national health issue, as we have jointly fought and defeated EBOLA, COVID, the same approach, attention, social distancing should be applied to the fight of drugs and substance abuse,” Davis averred.
He called on the Liberian government to harness a people-centered approach to issues of prevention and treatment, as it increases investment by providing more annexes to the Esther Grant Hospital, a rehabilitation center for drugs that must be assessable in every county.
A student of the Gray D. Allison High School, Marthlyne Sackor, speaking on behalf of the National Board YMCA- Liberia National, Cllr. Samuel Kofi Wood II bemoaned the psychological trauma and effects of drug abuse and the escalating threats posed to individuals.
She emphasized that stigmatization and discrimination associated with drug use can further harm people’s physical and mental health and prevent them from seeking help.
She further indicated that the YMCA Liberia joins and intends to strengthen efforts to raise awareness about the importance of respecting and empathizing with drug users and providing evidence-based, voluntary services to all.
According to her, the institution is finding alternatives to punishments, prioritizing prevention, and leading this year’s campaign aims to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs by promoting language respectful, non-judgmental.
“As part of these efforts, the YMCA of Liberia will fully participate and integrate programs that will aggressively create awareness and prevention Campaigns throughout our networks and mainstream them into all our activities. We will ensure that our Y-Clubs and communities work to build structures in our schools and communities to address this problem,” she said.
She added, “We will promote efforts to support strong legislation and work with individuals and organizations undertaking similar programs.”
As we pledge to do this and be consistent with this year’s team, the YMCAs will not refer to those living under such difficult circumstances as Zogos anymore. They are Liberia’s Chosen Ones. We must pay special attention to them because they challenge our conscience to act and to act decisively to highlight this problem and call us to urgent action.”
Addressing the occasion, the Focus Person Drug Demand Reduction of the Ministry of Health, Madam Esther Grant called on Liberians to desist from stigmatization of illicit drug users and strengthen prevention by raising awareness
She stressed the need to avoid branding illicit drug users’ names that could discourage them in society.
She, however, called on governments to provide the basic social need for the risk which could set the stage for rehabilitation.