Published: December 15, 2025
PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado County — Montserrado County Sen. Abraham Darius Dillon has renewed hope for families battling the toll of drug addiction, pledging sustained support for Liberia’s growing response to substance abuse as newly expanded facilities at the Center for Rehabilitation and Reintegration were formally dedicated Friday.
The new annex, named the Leymah and Nyonblee Recovery Lodge in honor of Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee, comes as Liberia intensifies efforts to confront narcotics and substance abuse nationwide.
Speaking at the dedication in Paynesville, Dillon highlighted the collaboration between the Center’s board, the Gbowee Foundation and Sen. Karnga-Lawrence, describing the expansion as a tangible response to a deepening national crisis. The new facilities increase accommodation for clients seeking recovery and introduce skills-based training designed to support reintegration.
“Our goal is not only to help our citizens break free from drug and substance abuse,” Dillon said, “but to empower them with skills that will enable them to reintegrate into society with dignity, purpose, and opportunity.”
The expansion includes a fully equipped computer center with 12 laptops, a tailoring training area with sewing machines and a residential lodge with 12 beds. Dillon said computer literacy training will begin immediately, stressing that practical skills are essential for recovering clients to compete in today’s job market.
As chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Dillon also praised the progress of clients currently in treatment, many of whom have spent four to five months in the program. He said their visible transformation underscored the value of sustained investment in rehabilitation and pledged continued support as they prepare to graduate.
“As they continue their recovery, we look forward to celebrating them fully when they graduate a month or two from now,” he said, offering thanks to partners and supporters before adding, “Above all, to God be the glory.”
Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee acknowledged the painful realities of substance abuse but said rehabilitation centers remain a critical lifeline for women and families affected by addiction.
“Coming to places like these is never a pleasure,” Gbowee said, “but I come with hope—hope that the work being done here will help bring our daughters and sisters back to a place where they can fully contribute to the development of Liberia.”
Gbowee disclosed that over the past year she managed a $20 million grant from a philanthropist to support women and girls globally through the Centauri Fund, a Kpelleh phrase meaning “the hand that gives.” Through that process, her team approved a $10,000 donation to the Center after reviewing documents and conducting interviews.
The contribution, she said, has already helped expand space and resources, even as she lamented the growing demand for such services. “I wish it did not have to be more space, because more space means the crisis of substance abuse and other forms of abuse continues to grow in our country,” she said.
Addressing young women in the program, Gbowee urged resilience and self-belief, acknowledging hardship without judgment. “Some people can endure and stand tall… Others, in trying to survive, turn to substances as a means of escape,” she said. “But my hope for all of you is this: recognize the enormous investment being made in you… You can turn your life around. You can become someone extraordinary.”
She added that recovery requires more than willpower, stressing the importance of faith and support systems. “I firmly believe that this is possible only when God is at the center of your journey,” she said.
Representing Senate Pro-Tempore Karnga-Lawrence and the Liberty Party leadership, Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine congratulated clients for choosing rehabilitation, describing their decision as an act of courage and responsibility.
“To my sisters, to my brothers, you’ve done so much and thank you for trusting your future,” Brumskine said. “You will make it.”
In a brief interview after the ceremony, she cited the drug epidemic as a major obstacle to national development, particularly for women, and praised Dillon for dedicating his efforts to rehabilitation. “We look to these young women having a sustained recovery, graduating, and rejoining society to contribute in a way that moves Liberia forward,” she said.
River Gee County Sen. Jonathan Boye-Charles also welcomed the expansion, cautioning clients against returning to destructive habits after treatment. He pledged to donate additional sewing machines to expand vocational training at the center, praising the initiative as a practical investment in human capacity.
The dedication brought together clients, parents, government officials, political leaders and community residents, all united by a shared call for sustained action against substance abuse and a renewed commitment to recovery, reintegration and hope.
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