Africa-Press – Liberia. As part of his campaign promises, Montserrado County Senator Dillon has constructed a center that is expected to host victims of substance abuse or the users of substance to help rehabilitate them to make them useful citizens to contribute to nation building.
On Thursday, Senator Dillon led an array of current and past government officials including former and current Vice Presidents of Liberia to the site to dedicate the facilities in the Rehab Community. Vice President Jewel Hoawad-Taylor and Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakia graced the occasion.
The occasion was also graced by Justice Minister Musa Dean, and Youth and Sports Minster Zeogar Wilson. According to the Montserrado Senator, the completion of the facility was made possible through help from the Friends of Dillon in the Diaspora and Liberia. The dedication of the youth center comes at a time when Liberia is faced with heightened drug addiction issues.
Drug addiction is a disease, according to Dr. Gemane Gedaliah Getteh, the guest speaker of the day. According to him, in addiction treatment drug rehabilitation is the most effective means of helping people to recover from drugs disorder. “People who are addicted to drugs need to be in a drug-free environment along with people who will hold them accountable for their goal of getting off drugs.”
Speaking at the event, Vice President Taylor called on the police to increase the fight against drugs abuse by arresting people who are dealing drugs in Liberia. She believes the issue of fighting drugs must include those bringing the substance into the country.
According to the VP, with the alarming rate of drugs trafficking and the increase in the use of the substance by the young generation, they might not be able to take over the country when the current older generation shall have left the stage something she believe is alarming.
The VP has also called on other members of the legislature to replicate the initiative by Senator Dillon in the counties they represent because, according to her, the issues of drugs victims and users who are usually referred to as zogos is no longer a Monrovia thing.
“Those hard reach parts of the counties are currently being used for trafficking drugs. They are being used as transport points. What is requires is the collective efforts of all Liberian regardless of your tribe, political affiliation, religion or gender.” Minister Zoegar James and Musa Dean committed the Government to working with the senator in fight against the menace of drugs used.
