By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
MONROVIA – In a bold show of solidarity and urgency, President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, has declared her full support for the ME TOO Drug Awareness Campaign, calling on all Liberians to join the movement against the country’s growing drug crisis.
On Thursday, Senator Karnga-Lawrence described drug abuse and addiction as a “national emergency” that has infiltrated every layer of Liberian society, impacting both urban and rural communities.
“There is not one family that is not affected one way or the other,” she said, emphasizing the devastating impact on the nation’s youth and future.
The Liberian Legislature has already taken decisive steps by passing one of the country’s toughest drug laws, making drug trafficking a non-bailable offense with penalties of up to 25 years in prison.
The Executive Branch, she noted, has also introduced a national framework to combat drug proliferation.
However, Karnga-Lawrence stressed that legislation alone is not enough. “Government cannot do it all. This has become a global crisis that needs movements and everyone’s voice and support,” she said, urging Liberians to move beyond politics and unite in confronting what she called a generational threat.
The ME TOO Drug Awareness Campaign, officially launched today, was founded by a group of Liberian women advocating for stronger community action, rehabilitation programs, and reintegration efforts for those affected by drug abuse.
Karnga-Lawrence praised the initiative, calling it a “genuine collective effort” that complements the Legislature’s oversight responsibilities.
Though the Legislature is currently on constitutional break, the Women’s Legislative Caucus, along with several lawmakers, have pledged their presence at the Capitol to receive a formal petition from the campaign. The Pro Tempore invited all citizens to participate in the national march by wearing black as a sign of solidarity with families and individuals impacted by drugs.
“This is everyone’s business,” she said. “Let us stand together—not in silence, but in action—for the future of our children and the soul of our nation.”
