Care First Liberia, a local organization has launched an anti-drug sensitization and awareness campaign, targeting the young populace.
The program took place Saturday, December 17, 2022, in Pipeline Community, Paynesville, District #3, Montserrado County. The launch brought together stakeholders of the community, including elders, community leaders, heads of religious and student groups, among others.
Young people, who abuse substances often experience problems, including academic difficulties, health challenges, poor peer relationships, and involvement with crimes which creates consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society.
Giving an overview of the program, Gifty G.V. Dahn, founder and CEO of Care First Liberia said her organization is intensifying campaign against drug and substance abuse with focus on children, to know their role and responsibility and draw line between them and those who are already victims.
Madam Dahn recounted the devastating impact of illicit drugs on the Liberian society, particularly the young generation, as she called on parents, guardians and stakeholders to join the fight against drug abuse, use of drugs and other harmful substances that are increasingly affecting young Liberians.
“It is my passion working with young people and I believe that they are the future leaders of the country. To see them going that way that is not good for their lives and society; we thought it wise that it is important to provide the requisite awareness that they have a role and responsibility to play in the progress of the future.
“Since two years now we have been working on this initiative aims to see young people productive. We see it as essential to draw line between children who are home not to cross over to the disadvantaged youth or zogoes, while we make efforts to win back to society the victims. We want to ensure that those who are home to remain and be saved”, she added.
Commenting more on her organization’s activities, CEO Dahn disclosed that forty youth are currently being trained by Care First Liberia in Barclay Mission and Lomax communities to become ambassadors of change. Also, she mentioned that her organization has administrators in Bong and Nimba counties.
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Delivering the key note address and officially launching the program, Bishop Albert David Miller alarmed that drug and substance abuse has a devastating effect on the young generation, threatening the future of the country.
Speaking on the topic, “Effect of Substance Abuse on Young People”, he lamented that the widespread abuse of drug by many young people and how the situation is turning a significant portion of the population, mainly youth, into ‘zogoes’ or wayward.
The National Overseer of the Universal Church of Christ emphasized the importance of dealing with the serious problem of drug abuse by calling on religious and community leaders and school administrators to prioritize helping the children to keep them away from dangerous substances.
Bishop Miller also called on the Government of Liberia to do more to solve this growing challenge.
“I am panicked by the increasing number of disadvantaged youths in every nook and cranny of this country, some are even involved with crimes and prostitution. This is alarming and it should draw the attention of all well-meaning Liberians, who want to see sustained peace and progress in this country”, the clergyman stressed. Editing by Jonathan Browne
