By Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
President Julius Maada Bio at the 2026 Presidential Town Hall at the Fatima Campus Auditorium, University of Makeni on June 30th called for a united national response to drug abuse. He urged young people to reject substance abuse and embrace education and hard work.
“I appeal to our youth to stay away from drugs. Education and hard work can break the shackles of poverty, but turning to drugs will trap generations in poverty,” President Bio said.
The President emphasized that tackling the crisis requires the collective efforts of government, families, and communities.
He disclosed that the government is strengthening rehabilitation efforts to help those struggling with addiction rebuild their lives.
“We are investing in rehabilitation centers to provide psychosocial support and teach former addicts new skills so they can become useful parts of society,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Social Welfare has rehabilitated 150 individuals who have been reintegrated into their communities.
President Bio described synthetic drugs such as Kush and Tramadol,“pure poison” and said his government is commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking and distribution networks.
“We have tightened our laws to punish those involved. About 120 individuals have already been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison ” he stated.
He noted that Sierra Leone’s strategic location makes it vulnerable to international drug trafficking networks but assured citizens that authorities are actively working to prevent the country from being used as a transit hub.
The President stressed that government action alone would not solve the problem, calling on communities to play a more active role in identifying and confronting drug abuse.
“We cannot pretend we do not know who is selling drugs in our communities. We cannot say we are unaware.”
He urged Sierra Leoneans to move beyond blaming government alone, insisting that protecting the country’s next generation requires a shared national responsibility.
“The public must stop pointing fingers only at the government; while we will provide the leadership, saving the next generation requires everyone’s effort,” President Bio concluded.
