On Thursday, August 7, 2025, a diverse group of Liberians marched at the Capitol Building to voice their support in the fight against drugs and illicit substance abuse. Their placards displayed powerful messages, reading, “No to Drugs. Yes to Life. We stand together against drugs and illicit substance abuse.”
Among the participants braving the heavy downpour were government officials, civil society members, marketers, seniors, and prominent figures, including Sister Mary Lauren Browne and Second Lady Synleseh Stephenie Dahn-Koung. The march also included disadvantaged youth affected by drug use.
As they chanted anti-drug slogans, many mothers wept, expressing their grief over the loss of their children to drugs. They demanded that the government strictly enforce drug laws without bias.
The protesters demanded that state actors implement rigorous programs aimed at enforcing anti-drug laws, creating effective rehabilitation for drug addicts, among others.
The urgency of the protesters’ message seemed to resonate with the Government of Liberia, which reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the serious drug situation in the country. Deputy Government Spokesperson Daniel Sando spoke to journalists during a Ministry of Information press briefing, stating that the government is determined to combat illicit drug activities on Liberian soil.
Sando emphasized that the government’s approach to combating drug abuse would not only involve public awareness campaigns but also the establishment of rehabilitation centers across all 15 counties of Liberia. This initiative aims to empower young Liberians who have fallen victim to drugs by providing them with technical skills to build meaningful futures.
