CAADA urges compassionate, coordinated response to Liberia’s drug crisis

Published: August 22, 2025

MONROVIA — The Community Action Against Drug Abuse (CAADA) has urged the Liberian government and its partners to implement a coordinated, rights-based approach to tackle the country’s worsening drug crisis, warning that solely relying on enforcement tactics could increase insecurity and erode public trust.

In a statement released in Monrovia, CAADA acknowledged recent raids by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on drug dens across the country but warned that such actions should be accompanied by rehabilitation and social reintegration programs.

“While we recognize the efforts of the LDEA, supported by communities, to curb the spread of dangerous substances, these actions must be accompanied by coordinated, rights-based, and compassionate interventions to protect and rehabilitate affected youth,” CAADA said.

The group urged the government through the LDEA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and social welfare agencies to establish referral and support systems that can offer counseling, rehabilitation, vocational training, and reintegration opportunities for drug-affected youth. It also highlighted the importance of reliable data collection on those arrested, displaced, or identified as victims of substance abuse, arguing that such information is crucial for guiding evidence-based interventions and resource distribution. At the same time, CAADA called for enforcement efforts to uphold the United Nations’ International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy to ensure that all actions respect the dignity, rights, and safety of vulnerable groups.

CAADA expressed concern over a growing trend where drug pushers increasingly use women as couriers, a practice that has led to a disproportionate number of women being arrested during raids. While arrests based on possession are valid, the group urged the LDEA to intensify efforts beyond targeting low-level couriers and instead focus on dismantling trafficking networks often controlled by men who remain shielded or at large.

The organization warned that a law-enforcement-driven approach on its own cannot resolve the drug crisis. It said the mass dislodgement of drug-affected youth without structured support risks escalating insecurity and criminality. Without access to treatment, shelter, or reintegration opportunities, many displaced youth may be forced into survival crimes, further heightening fear and instability in communities.

Quoting the UN guidelines on drug policy, CAADA emphasized that national strategies should prioritize health, human dignity, and evidence-based solutions. It urged authorities to expand access to treatment and social support while ensuring accountability and transparency in enforcement activities, with all policies aligned with international human rights standards.

CAADA expressed readiness to collaborate with government agencies, civil society, faith-based organizations, and communities to develop sustainable strategies for prevention, treatment, and reintegration. The group’s founder, Patmillia Paivey, emphasized that Liberia’s drug crisis demands urgent yet balanced action. “Only through collaborative, health-centered strategies can Liberia confront drug abuse while safeguarding the lives and futures of its young people,” she said.