IPNEWS: The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Interim Management Team is proposing a mandatory drug testing policy for students in elementary, junior, and senior high schools nationwide.
The plan was announced by LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T.M. Biago on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and is part of a larger national strategy to address the rising issue of drug abuse in the country.
The LDEA describes the initiative as a preventive measure to protect future generations from drug abuse.
Testing would occur at three key educational stages:
A test would be administered before students enter the 7th grade.
Another test would be given after the completion of the 9th grade.
Students would be tested again prior to enrolling in university.
For students who test positive for illicit substances, the policy includes a plan for counseling and rehabilitation.
The LDEA intends to work with other government ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth, and Sports, to implement the program nationwide.
The mandatory testing is part of the agency’s “SAY NO TO DRUGS” campaign, which also includes awareness sessions and establishing Peer Educator Clubs in schools.
The proposal follows President Joseph Boakai’s dismissal of the previous LDEA leadership in August 2025 and the appointment of an Interim Management Team to strengthen anti-drug efforts.
The new LDEA leadership has already implemented mandatory drug testing for its own officers, dismissing those who tested positive for illegal substances.
The move also follows calls from educators and a 2025 announcement by the Ministry of Education to integrate anti-drug education into the national school curriculum.
There is growing concern in Liberia over the prevalence of drug abuse among youth, with substances like “Kush,” tramadol, and marijuana being cited as significant problems.LDEA Proposes Compulsory Drugs Test for All Students in Liberia
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Interim Management Team is proposing a mandatory drug testing policy for students in elementary, junior, and senior high schools nationwide.
The plan was announced by LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T.M. Biago on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and is part of a larger national strategy to address the rising issue of drug abuse in the country.
The LDEA describes the initiative as a preventive measure to protect future generations from drug abuse.
Testing would occur at three key educational stages:
A test would be administered before students enter the 7th grade.
Another test would be given after the completion of the 9th grade.
Students would be tested again prior to enrolling in university.
For students who test positive for illicit substances, the policy includes a plan for counseling and rehabilitation.
The LDEA intends to work with other government ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth, and Sports, to implement the program nationwide.
The mandatory testing is part of the agency’s “SAY NO TO DRUGS” campaign, which also includes awareness sessions and establishing Peer Educator Clubs in schools.
The proposal follows President Joseph Boakai’s dismissal of the previous LDEA leadership in August 2025 and the appointment of an Interim Management Team to strengthen anti-drug efforts.
The new LDEA leadership has already implemented mandatory drug testing for its own officers, dismissing those who tested positive for illegal substances.
The move also follows calls from educators and a 2025 announcement by the Ministry of Education to integrate anti-drug education into the national school curriculum.
There is growing concern in Liberia over the prevalence of drug abuse among youth, with substances like “Kush,” tramadol, and marijuana being cited as significant problems.
LDEA Proposes Compulsory Drugs Test for All Students in Liberia
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Interim Management Team is proposing a mandatory drug testing policy for students in elementary, junior, and senior high schools nationwide.
The plan was announced by LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T.M. Biago on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and is part of a larger national strategy to address the rising issue of drug abuse in the country.
The LDEA describes the initiative as a preventive measure to protect future generations from drug abuse.
Testing would occur at three key educational stages:
A test would be administered before students enter the 7th grade.
Another test would be given after the completion of the 9th grade.
Students would be tested again prior to enrolling in university.
For students who test positive for illicit substances, the policy includes a plan for counseling and rehabilitation.
The LDEA intends to work with other government ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth, and Sports, to implement the program nationwide.
The mandatory testing is part of the agency’s “SAY NO TO DRUGS” campaign, which also includes awareness sessions and establishing Peer Educator Clubs in schools.
The proposal follows President Joseph Boakai’s dismissal of the previous LDEA leadership in August 2025 and the appointment of an Interim Management Team to strengthen anti-drug efforts.
The new LDEA leadership has already implemented mandatory drug testing for its own officers, dismissing those who tested positive for illegal substances.
The move also follows calls from educators and a 2025 announcement by the Ministry of Education to integrate anti-drug education into the national school curriculum.
There is growing concern in Liberia over the prevalence of drug abuse among youth, with substances like “Kush,” tramadol, and marijuana being cited as significant problems.
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Interim Management Team is proposing a mandatory drug testing policy for students in elementary, junior, and senior high schools nationwide.
The plan was announced by LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T.M. Biago on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and is part of a larger national strategy to address the rising issue of drug abuse in the country.
The LDEA describes the initiative as a preventive measure to protect future generations from drug abuse.
Testing would occur at three key educational stages:
A test would be administered before students enter the 7th grade.
Another test would be given after the completion of the 9th grade.
Students would be tested again prior to enrolling in university.
For students who test positive for illicit substances, the policy includes a plan for counseling and rehabilitation.
The LDEA intends to work with other government ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth, and Sports, to implement the program nationwide.
The mandatory testing is part of the agency’s “SAY NO TO DRUGS” campaign, which also includes awareness sessions and establishing Peer Educator Clubs in schools.
The proposal follows President Joseph Boakai’s dismissal of the previous LDEA leadership in August 2025 and the appointment of an Interim Management Team to strengthen anti-drug efforts.
The new LDEA leadership has already implemented mandatory drug testing for its own officers, dismissing those who tested positive for illegal substances.
The move also follows calls from educators and a 2025 announcement by the Ministry of Education to integrate anti-drug education into the national school curriculum.
There is growing concern in Liberia over the prevalence of drug abuse among youth, with substances like “Kush,” tramadol, and marijuana being cited as significant problems.
