MONROVIA – In a recent public statement, Simeon Freeman, political leader of the Movement for Progress Change (MPC), an opposition political party, sharply criticized the Liberian government’s handling of the escalating drug crisis that has claimed the lives of many young Liberians.
Freeman’s comments come amid rising concerns about increasing drug use among the country’s youth—a trend he attributes largely to widespread unemployment and inadequate government support.
“How can young people not turn to drugs when the government fails to provide them with jobs?” Freeman questioned, expressing deep disappointment over the lack of opportunities for Liberia’s youth.
He emphasized that many young people resort to substance abuse as a way to cope with the frustration and despair born out of unfulfilled promises from government officials.
Speaking during a radio interview on Thursday, September 4, Freeman dismissed the government’s popular slogan, “Say No to Drugs,” as insufficient without concrete policies and practical initiatives.
“What can we do as a government and as a people? We need more than just slogans; we need solutions,” he insisted.
The MPC leader stressed that combating the drug crisis requires genuine political will. Without it, he warned, the leadership of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) will continue to fall short of addressing the root causes of drug abuse.
“The problems will persist as previous administrations come and go, unless there is a fundamental shift in approach,” Freeman added.
His remarks highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy focused on job creation and youth support systems to help steer young Liberians away from drug dependency. As the debate intensifies, the government faces increasing pressure to implement effective measures to curb the growing drug problem among its youth population.
