MONROVIA, Liberia — Margibi County Electoral District #3 Representative Ellen A. Attoh-Wreh has voiced deep concern over the escalating drug abuse crisis among Liberian youth, warning that the trend threatens the nation’s public health, education system, and future workforce.
Speaking against the backdrop of alarming new statistics, Attoh-Wreh highlighted that Liberia has seen a sharp increase in narcotics use over the past decade, particularly among those aged 15 to 30. Data from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) shows that more than 60% of drug-related arrests in 2023 involved individuals within this age bracket. Substances most commonly abused include marijuana, tramadol, cocaine, and “kush,” a dangerous synthetic drug often laced with chemicals such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
A 2023 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) study revealed that one in five Liberian youths now use narcotics, with over 866 known drug dens operating in Monrovia alone. The issue is most visible in urban centers, where large numbers of young people — predominantly males — gather in ghettos.
Health and Education at Risk
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reported in 2023 that more than 35% of mental health cases in major urban clinics involved young people with a history of substance abuse. Tramadol use has been linked to seizures and long-term neurological damage, while synthetic drugs like kush are associated with hallucinations, aggression, and suicidal tendencies.
The Liberian Psychiatric Association says youth drug addiction is now the leading cause of psychiatric admissions at the E.S. Grant Mental Hospital in Monrovia. The crisis has also taken a toll on education, with a 2024 Ministry of Education and UNICEF survey finding that drug abuse accounts for over 20% of school dropouts in Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties.
Government and Community Response
In response to mounting concerns, the Liberian government in 2023 passed the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, criminalizing the trafficking and unregulated sale of harmful substances while also promoting health-centered approaches to addiction.
President Joseph Boakai, upon taking office in January 2024, declared drug abuse a national public health emergency. He established a multi-sectoral task force comprising the Ministries of Health, Justice, Youth and Sports, Gender, and Finance to lead the response. Nearly US $3.5 million was allocated in the 2024 and 2025 budgets for at-risk youth programs, including the “Kush Must Go” campaign.
Non-governmental organizations such as Don Bosco Homes and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia are also active, running outreach and counseling programs, providing life skills training, and raising public awareness about the dangers of drug use. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to the fight, including recognizing the August 7, 2025, protest against drug abuse as a significant moment in the national response.
Call for Stronger Action
Despite these initiatives, Attoh-Wreh emphasized that the country’s response remains inadequate given the scale of the crisis. She urged increased funding for rehabilitation services, noting that Liberia currently has fewer than five fully functional rehab centers, all underfunded and unable to meet growing demand. She also called for the full implementation of the National Mental Health Policy, launched in 2016, to address treatment gaps caused by budget shortfalls and a shortage of trained professionals.
The lawmaker further recommended expanding youth employment and vocational training programs to provide alternatives to drug use, as well as integrating anti-drug education into school curricula nationwide.
Border security and stricter regulation of pharmacies were also identified as priorities to limit the inflow of illicit drugs and the abuse of prescription medications such as tramadol.
A National Priority
Attoh-Wreh warned that without urgent, coordinated action, Liberia risks losing a generation of young people to addiction — a loss that would undermine the nation’s development and democratic stability.
“A nation whose youth are incapacitated by drug addiction cannot achieve sustainable development or safeguard its democracy,” she said. “The fight against drug abuse must be elevated to a national priority.”
