Monrovia: — The Lead Campaigner of the Say No To Drugs campaign, Madam Roseline Amah Giddings, has praised the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for its ongoing efforts in combating the illegal drug trade, particularly its handling of the reported 19 million drug seizure.
Speaking during the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Paynesville, Madam Giddings said the LDEA has demonstrated commitment in the fight against drugs and deserves recognition for the work accomplished so far.
The event saw the Say No To Drugs campaign provide meals to more than 400 drug users and recovering addicts from the King Gray Community, offering both support and hope to those battling addiction.
Madam Giddings revealed that her passion for the anti-drug campaign is deeply personal, noting that her own son is a victim of drug addiction.
“It is not an easy thing to see your own child trapped in drugs,” she said. “That experience motivated me to join the fight to eradicate drugs from Liberia.”
She announced that the campaign intends to extend its outreach to other ghettos across the country and disclosed plans for another major program on August 7, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the Say No To Drugs campaign.
Also speaking at the event, anti-drug advocate Rita-Rose Ireland described drug addiction as a national emergency that requires urgent collective action.
According to her, many parents remain in denial about their children’s involvement with drugs, making the crisis even more difficult to address.
“This is not a one-man problem,” she said. “We must all collaborate to find lasting solutions.”
Mrs. Ireland called on the Government of Liberia to construct more safe homes and rehabilitation centers to accommodate the growing number of people seeking recovery. She also urged Liberians to expose individuals involved in smuggling illegal drugs into the country.
“As a drug user, you lose your identity, your dignity, and people’s respect. Drugs destroy your future,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the feeding program expressed gratitude to the Say No To Drugs campaign for its support and appealed to the government to establish more rehabilitation centers across the country.
They stressed that rehabilitation facilities should include vocational training in trades such as plumbing, electrical installation, tailoring, and baking, enabling recovering addicts to acquire skills that will help them rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of returning to drug abuse.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed under renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, and families to confront Liberia’s growing drug crisis.
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