Monrovia – Despite efforts by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in combatting drug addiction in Liberia, the number continues to rise, especially among the youth population.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The use of illicit drugs is common among wayward youth classified as zogos, who are known for snatching people’s personal belongings such as cell phones, money and handbags.
Another group of young people, who, too, are now getting involved in taking in illegal drugs are high school students.
This is what a youth advocacy group, Students Against Corruption (SAC), says.
According to SAC president Daniel Dennis, an ongoing survey by his organization is proving that the abuse of drugs by young people, especially high school students is on the increase in Liberia.
Dennis said students can be seen in various ghettos and entertainment places during school hours, especially on Fridays.
He made these statements on state-run Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) over the weekend when he appeared as a guest on the program “Integrity Hour.”
As he talked about these Liberian high school students, Dennis, however, expressed frustration over the delay of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to shut down and arrest ghetto owners across the nation.
He warned that if nothing is done about the situation, it would have an adverse effect on the students and the educational sector of the country.
He, however, pledged his organization’s relentless advocacy towards the fight in trying to stamp the flow of illicit drugs in the country.
“Illegal substance use among youth is a significant problem. It impairs the relationship between peers, invokes mental illness, disrupts learning by increasing dropouts of schools and poverty in the society,” he noted.
SAC is a local non-governmental organization working with several public schools to create awareness against corruption in high schools and the communities.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
