(MONROVIA, LIBERIA, APRIL 29, 2025) – The Ministry of Health has embarked on a three-day training for people providing treatment services for substance use disorders (SUD). This training, which focuses on the use of standardized tools that are used in the screening and assessment of people with drug addiction, commenced on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Royal Grand Hotel in Monrovia, bringing together over 35 participants.
The event, organized by the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with support from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), aims to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to collect and analyze data for effective drug use disorder treatment and prevention services.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Moses Ziah II, Director of the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude to the international partners, including INL and UNODC, for their sustained support. Dr. Ziah emphasized the importance of training frontline service providers from both public and private facilities, highlighting the nation’s ongoing efforts in the development of a national drug information system. “Although service providers are working tirelessly and with limited resources, Liberia lacks accurate data on the types of substances being used and the populations affected. This workshop is vital in tailoring our interventions to the specific needs of those living with substance use disorders,” Dr. Ziah said.
Madam Sally Schlegel, Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, praised the country’s commitment to strengthening its drug demand reduction efforts. “We commend the leadership of Dr. Ziah and the Ministry of Health in advancing drug information systems in Liberia. This training marks a significant milestone toward quality, standardized treatment services. Globally, only 1 in 11 people with drug use disorders receive treatment—Liberia is moving in the right direction by addressing this gap,” she said.
Dr. Anselme Simeon Sanou, UNODC Program Officer, lauded the collaborative efforts and emphasized the global relevance of Liberia’s initiative. He encouraged participants to remain committed to the training, noting that the use of internationally validated tools such as the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) will strengthen accurate data collection, inform national policy, and improve outcomes for people affected by substance use disorders. The workshop runs through April 30, 2025, and is expected to lay a foundation for future interventions focused on data-driven, community-centered solutions in drug prevention and treatment.