By: S. Winston Blyden
IPNews-Monrovia: Youth and Sports Minister D. Zoegar Wilson says the issue of drug addiction by the young people in Liberia, if not addressed and tackled head-on, will be the next crisis Liberia will have to endure.
Making remarks at the official program marking the launch of Community Action for Reintegration and Empowerment (CARE); under the theme: fighting drugs and alcoholic addiction in Liberia, Minister Wilson stated that as Chairman of the Joint Ministerial Committee consisting of the Ministries of Justice, LRRRC, Monrovia City Corporation, Drug Enforcement Agency, they have engaged several international partners.
Hence, Government has device a two-prone approach in tackling the issue of drug and alcohol addiction. One of such approach according to the Youth and Sports Minister is to provide opportunities for those addicts have avail themselves through either an organization or a religious institution.
He also noted that the long term plans is the establishment of a training center in Bensonville which will provide vocational education, psychosocial counselling and rehabilitation.
Minister Wilson argued that they believed, when young people are not provided psychosocial counselling rehabilitation and training, when they are reintegrated in society, they would revert to drug and alcohol addiction.
The Youth and Sports Minister said currently the Government in partnership with the UN system is running a program dubbed: “the Social Economic Empowerment of Disadvantages Youth (SEED); which is a pilot project for disadvantaged youth in Montserrado County.
“Now if you are members of the at-risk youth, who have rehabilitated yourself and you need support or some form of opportunity, I encourage you to submit your name through CARE to my office.
Also speaking, the Head of the World Health Organization in Liberia, Dr. Med Chan, said he was elated that the Government of Liberia and other West African Government have been engaged to ensure the issue of drug and alcohol addiction is tackled.
According to him, the issue of drug and alcohol addiction in Liberia and West Africa is on the rise. But is however happy for the collaboration to tackle the situation.
The WHO boss noted that some of these drugs consumed by these young people are meant for medical purposes or to reduce pain; the illegal consumption of it leads to harm in the body also.
Giving the overview of the program, the CEO and Founder of CARE, Konrad Barjuah, said his organization has been working with other international partner to assist these youth get rehabilitated and make good of their lives. He added: “We are not her to turn them down but to make good of their lives.”
According to him, it has come to their realization that most of the youths rehabilitated, end up being relapsed. So they are intervening on their behalf to ensure they become good citizens and contribute to the society.
Barjuah asserted that they are in discussion with some agricultural and construction companies to absorb these people in their programs amidst the economic hardship, so as to keep them busy and focused.
Therefore, the CARE boss is calling for collaboration from more partners and other well-meaning Liberians to help contribute to their fellow compatriots’ lives, so that they too become meaningful.
