By: Naneka Hoffman
The Resident Bishop of the Liberia Space of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., has known as on church buildings, governments, and civil society throughout West Africa to unite in opposition to the rising disaster of drug abuse, describing it as a non secular, ethical, and human emergency threatening the area’s youth.
Bishop Quire made the decision on Thursday, January 15, 2026, whereas delivering a sermon on the West Africa Regional Convention of the United Methodist Church Medication Desk, held below the theme: “Confronting the Disaster: A Unified Response of Religion, Motion, and Restoration.”
Preaching on the subject “Confronting the Disaster: A Unified Response of Religion, Motion, and Restoration in West Africa Say NO to Medication,” the Bishop drew inspiration from Isaiah 1:16–17, Romans 12:2, and John 10:10. He warned that drug abuse is destroying goals, weakening households, and eroding the ethical material of communities, significantly in Liberia.
“This isn’t solely a social downside; it’s a non secular disaster,” Bishop Quire stated. “Medication should not freedom; they’re bondage. Our younger individuals had been created within the picture of God, and no life is disposable.”
He emphasised that the Church should communicate boldly and act decisively, warning that silence within the face of such destruction would quantity to a failure of Christian witness. In response to him, true transformation begins with the renewal of the thoughts, as taught in Romans 12:2, and have to be supported by concrete motion.
Bishop Quire known as for a coordinated regional response, urging dad and mom to reclaim their position as ethical guides, church buildings to supply counseling and mentorship, and governments to implement drug legal guidelines with justice and integrity.
He additionally pressured the necessity for collaboration amongst healthcare employees, safety companies, civil society organizations, and faith-based establishments.
Highlighting the cross-border nature of the drug disaster, the United Methodist chief famous that no single nation can confront the problem alone. He known as on nations together with Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon to work collectively in prevention, training, and rehabilitation efforts.
He additional reminded individuals that folks battling dependancy shouldn’t be condemned or discarded.
“The Gospel is a Gospel of second probabilities,” he stated. “The damaged might be healed, the misplaced might be discovered, and people trapped in dependancy might be restored via Christ.”
Bishop Quire concluded by urging sustained dedication past conferences and sermons, encouraging long-term funding in youth improvement, psychological well being assist, and rehabilitation packages.
“The gates of hell shall not prevail in opposition to the Church,” he declared. “This disaster is not going to defeat us, as a result of God is with us.”
Additionally talking on the convention, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Officer-in-Cost of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Company (LDEA), Fitzgerald T. M. Biago, pressured that the struggle in opposition to medicine requires braveness, dedication, and collective motion.
He described drug abuse as one of the vital urgent threats to the soundness, well being, and way forward for West Africa, noting that its influence is seen from Monrovia to Freetown, Conakry, and Abidjan.
“Behind each statistic is a human story a teen who misplaced path, a guardian who misplaced a baby, a dream that was by no means fulfilled,” Biago stated.
He defined that many people flip to medicine as a result of peer strain, childhood trauma, psychological well being struggles, unemployment, damaged households, and weak assist methods, warning that medicine disguise themselves as options however solely deepen the ache they declare to treatment.
The Deputy Commissioner outlined three main challenges:
Transnational drug trafficking networks.
Youth vulnerability pushed by unemployment.
Institutional pressure brought on by restricted sources and weak regional coordination.
He added that to handle these challenges, he proposed three strategic pathways:
1. Strengthening regional cooperation and intelligence sharing;
2. Investing in prevention, rehabilitation, and youth improvement;
3. Constructing institutional capability throughout legislation enforcement, healthcare, and social companies.
“Habit isn’t an ethical failure; it’s a well being problem,” he emphasised. “A society that actually says no to medicine should additionally say sure to rehabilitation, reintegration, and hope.”
For her half, Deputy Minister for Kids and Social Safety, Garmai S. Tokpah, expressed appreciation to the United Methodist Church and companions for convening the well timed convention.
She famous that drug abuse has turn out to be one of the vital pressing social and public well being threats dealing with West Africa, with devastating penalties for youngsters and adolescents, together with faculty dropout, exploitation, and long-term social exclusion.
Madam Tokpah reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration via strengthened baby safety methods and expanded psychosocial assist companies.
Nonetheless, she emphasised that authorities motion alone is inadequate.
“Religion-based establishments play a vital position in prevention and restoration,” she stated. “Your ethical authority and dedication to human dignity make you highly effective companions.”
She concluded with a message to younger individuals: “Your life issues. Your future issues. Saying no to medicine isn’t an indication of weak point; it’s an act of braveness and self-respect. Your voices should lead the struggle in opposition to drug abuse in your communities.”
