A severe drug abuse crisis is rapidly growing among Liberian youth, with one in five addicted. In January 2024, President Joseph Boakai called drug abuse a “national public health emergency” because of its alarming prevalence and devastating consequences.
Prevalence: A 2023 study by the UNFPA showed that one in five Liberian youths uses narcotics. The LDEA in Liberia shows similar figures, revealing that 20% of young people use illegal drugs.
Demographics: A 2019 government survey found that 91% of “Zogos” (marginalized youth) are male, showing that the issue mainly affects men. Over 60% of drug arrests in 2023 were of people aged 15-30.
In Monrovia, there are over 866 active drug dens, called “ghettos,” where chronic drug users live.
“Kush” is a dangerous synthetic drug typically combining fentanyl and methamphetamine. It is highly potent and associated with severe health issues.
Tramadol is an opioid drug often abused, sometimes combined with marijuana.
Causes and Consequences
High unemployment, poverty, and limited opportunities, with only a small portion of the workforce employed formally, create socioeconomic hardship.
Peer approval influences substance use, while family support and parental drug use are also factors.
Liberia's weak law enforcement and porous borders make it a simple transit point for international drug traffickers, increasing local availability
Consequences:
A health crisis: Psychiatric admissions at the E.S. Grant Mental Hospital in Monrovia are primarily caused by drug addiction. Kush and Tramadol can lead to hallucinations, aggression, seizures, and neurological damage in users.
Social Collapse: Increased interpersonal violence, sexual risk, crime, and societal breakdown are all connected to the crisis.
Education's consequence: Many school dropouts are caused by drug abuse, which hurts the country's future
