Liberia’s escalating drug crisis has prompted urgent calls for action from community leaders, with youth advocate James Holder Nuahn labeling the surge in narcotics a direct threat to national security. In an interview, Nuahn, head of the nonprofit Innovative Partner Network Liberia, warned that the proliferation of substances like cocaine, heroin, and synthetic drugs risks crippling an entire generation. “Drug dealers are enemies of the state,” he declared, urging authorities to prosecute offenders without exception—even if they are family members.
The crisis is starkly visible in Montserrado County, where Nuahn says young people are increasingly “turned into zombies by drugs” on streets that should instead nurture future leaders. He linked the epidemic to broader societal instability, predicting a surge in crime if addiction rates remain unchecked. “We’ll soon have a society overrun by addicts breaking into homes to feed their habits,” he said, criticizing lax laws and insufficient community vigilance.
Beyond rhetoric, Nuahn’s U.S.-based organization has launched grassroots initiatives, including the “Each One, Teach One” program, which trains volunteers to educate communities about drug risks through churches, schools, and public forums. “We’re showing youth there are alternatives to this destructive path,” he explained.
Nuahn also highlighted systemic failures enabling traffickers, citing porous borders at key entry points like Roberts International Airport and the Freeport of Monrovia. He called for abolishing diplomatic immunity in drug-related searches and strengthening Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with enhanced resources and legal authority. “The DEA needs power to investigate and prosecute—not just goodwill,” he stressed, emphasizing that the crisis spares no family.
Rehabilitation efforts, he argued, are equally flawed. Many centers operate without oversight, applying one-size-fits-all approaches to complex addictions. “You can’t treat heroin and K2 the same way in a backyard facility,” Nuahn said, advocating for standardized care, mandatory licensing, and government-regulated treatment protocols.
His appeal extended beyond policymakers to ordinary citizens, urging Liberians to report drug activity and reject complacency. “This isn’t someone else’s problem—it will reach your doorstep,” he said, rallying religious groups, educators, and local leaders to unite against the scourge.
With Liberia already declaring drug abuse a national emergency, Nuahn dismissed half-measures. “We’re losing our country,” he said. “Those enabling this crisis, regardless of status, must be treated as enemies of the state.” His message underscores a race against time to salvage Liberia’s youth—and its future.
