Editorial: GoL’s detoxification and rehabilitation program is a joke

 A temporary detoxification and rehabilitation program initiated by the Government of Liberia for drug-addicted youths in Montserrado County is just another lip service to the drugs crisis in Liberia. The exercise seems more cosmetic than effective, as it appears to be a mere public relations stunt by the government.  

 For the state to reveal that 485 of the 600 youths enrolled in the exercise abandoned the program, with no steps being taken to ensure they remain there and complete the process, and provide an alternative to drug addiction.  

 The Multi-Sectoral Committee on Drugs revealed early this week that only 115 youths out of a total of 600 remain in the program, which was designed to offer treatment and recovery services to some of the country’s most vulnerable.

 Montserrado County Health Officer, Jewel Tarpeh Kollie, narrates, “From the start, we had about 600 youths in the program. But as of yesterday, the number dropped to 115 (105 males and 10 females). Sometimes you see the number increase, and other times it decreases, because the process is voluntary and many of them walk away.”

 The government seems to be unserious about the fight against dangerous substances across the country, despite recent statistics of scores of deaths in Paynesville and other parts of Montserrado from drug consumption.

How can a process meant to dissuade citizens, particularly youths, from life-threatening drugs be voluntary for victims who have become addicted? How practical is that in a country that is already awash with deadly drugs?

 The government institution that is responsible for fighting drug abuse, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency or LDEA, is paralyzed despite changing heads more than four times, mainly because of a lack of firm leadership and due to consistent compromise.

 Then the government comes up with a voluntary process that allows drug addicts to walk in and walk out in a so-called detoxification and rehabilitation exercise. Who does that with a real intention to confront addiction?     

“The issue of rehabilitation is voluntary. We cannot force anyone to stay,” Deputy Minister for TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Laraamand Nyonton, is quoted as saying in a recent MICAT Press Briefing. Nyonton added, “This is a temporary camp, so if they see the need to be treated, they stay; but if they choose to leave, they walk away.”

 The deputy minister ought to know that helping people overcome a deviant habit is not a voluntary process. There should be some strong deterrence; it should be well-intentional, and they should be provided with productive alternative ventures or undertakings that would keep them busy away from returning to drugs.