A distressing scene at the King Gray Cemetery in the ELWA community has once again drawn attention to Liberia’s worsening drug crisis. Carnalia J. Scotland, a young woman battling addiction, broke down in tears as she appealed for help to escape a life that has left her sleeping among graves.
Carnalia, a graduate of Len Miller High School, lamented that peer pressure and substance abuse had derailed her life despite her academic achievements.
“I’m saying no to drugs. I’m tired of sleeping in the graveyard. I want to change. I need help, and I apologize to my family for letting the streets take me,” she cried.
Her plea came during a birthday gathering organized by Roseline Armah Glidding, a mother of a recovering addict and now a prominent member of the Say No To Drugs (SNTD) campaign. Glidding has turned the struggles with her son’s addiction into advocacy, urging users to reclaim their lives.
Exploitation and Hopelessness
Another young woman, 20-year-old Evelyn Dennis, also expressed regret, noting that her education and future have been jeopardized by drug use. She condemned individuals and organizations who exploit addicts for publicity.
“They take our pictures and videos for their own benefit but never provide real help,” Dennis said. “Our future may be delayed, but it’s not denied. We just need support to recover.”
A father of two, who admitted to battling addiction, shared his pain. He revealed that his mother had barred him from returning home due to his drug habit, leaving his family fractured.
Deadly Wave of Kush
Beyond individual stories, a deadly trend is sweeping communities. Reports indicate that between one and four young people die daily after consuming dangerous new substances. On August 16, tragedy struck the Soul Clinic community when four youths ingested a potent form of kush. Three died instantly, while the lone survivor is undergoing treatment at Pastor Joshua Blayee’s Rehabilitation Center.
The survivor, who has struggled with addiction for 13 years, described the drug as a lethal concoction his group had never encountered before. He expressed gratitude for surviving and pledged to rebuild his life through rehabilitation.
Calls for Action
Community members have begun rallying behind Carnalia and others, joining the SNTD campaign and even engaging in community policing to dismantle ghettos and arrest drug dealers.
Despite these grassroots efforts, frustration remains over the government’s slow response. On February 20, 2025, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) approved a special $140,000 Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) project titled “Kush Must Go.” Yet months later, residents say the initiative has stalled.
The LDEA has also launched a four-county awareness program to educate families and schools about the dangers of drugs. However, Deputy Public Affairs Officer Lulu Rogers admitted the initiative is currently on hold due to financial and logistical challenges.
“We’ve carried out several awareness campaigns in Montserrado, but the program is paused because of resource constraints,” Rogers told this paper.
The Way Forward As Liberia continues to lose young lives daily, communities are calling on the government, civil society, and international partners to prioritize rehabilitation over exploitation. For Carnalia and countless others, urgent intervention could mean the difference between life and death.
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