Peoples Effort Advocating for Community Empowerment Sierra Leone (PEACE SALONE) has engaged reformed drug addicts commonly called Service Users on the implications of Drug Abuse during the celebration of World Drugs Day, June 26, at National Rehabilitation Centre on Drugs and Substance Abuse at Gondama in Bo, serving the Southern Region.

Addressing the service users, the Chief Executive Officer of PEACE SALONE, Arauna Kamara, said that his organization has health advocacy as one of the thematic areas in their five years strategic plan and engaging the Service Users at the National Rehabilitation Centre on Drugs and Substance Abuse in the Southern Region, is part of the Sub-Sahara Africa Consortium for the Advancement of innovative Research and care for Sepsis(STAIRS) Community engagement on the fight against sepsis as it relates to drug abuse.

He said that World Drug Day, officially known as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is observed every year on June 26. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987 to raise awareness about the major problem that illicit drugs have on society and to promote action and cooperation for achieving a world free of drug abuse.

According to Mr. Kamarara, “. This is not just another day on the calendar — it is a global call to action, a solemn reminder of the lives lost, families broken, and futures derailed by the scourge of drugs. Across the world, millions of people – young and old – struggle silently with drug addiction. It doesn’t discriminate. It touches people from every walk of life: rich and poor, educated and uneducated, urban and rural. For every person in the grip of addiction, there is a family living in fear, a child longino for a stable home a communitv weakened by crime, stigma, and despair.”

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He went on to say that: ” the theme of this year’s World Drug Day is: “Breaking the chains, prevention, treatment and recovery for all.” This is not just a slogan. It is a roadmap. We know what works — early education, mental health support, strong families, safe communities, and opportunities for youth. But knowledge is not enough. We must act.”

Mr. Kamara said that: ” the reasons why people turn to drugs are complex. It could be trauma, peer pressure, loneliness, curiosity, unemployment, lack of support. What starts as an escape can quickly become a trap. And once someone is addicted, the journey to recovery is long and painful, often filled with judgment instead of help.But here is the truth we must all embrace: Addiction is not a moral failure. It is a health condition. And just like any disease, it requires treatment, compassion, and support — not shame and punishment.”

He noted that the young people have good dreams of becoming productive citizens – a young person with dreams of becoming a doctor, an artist, an engineer – but who never got the guidance they needed, who felt invisible in their own home, who got pulled into the wrong crowd, and who turned to drugs as an escape. That one poor decision, often made in desperation, can become a life sentence” , adding that ” this is why prevention is

key. And prevention starts early. It starts at home, with open conversations and trust. It starts in schools, with honest education and mental health awareness. It starts in communities, with programs that offer hope, purpose, and support.” Mr. Kamara pointed out that “prevention also requires policy and we need leaders who fund rehabilitation and treatment centers, who fight the illicit drug trade with intelligence and integrity, who invest in education, not just enforcement and that as individuals, we too must act. Talk to people in drugs abuse Listen to your friends. Be the support someone may desperately need. Choose compassion over judgment. Because every person battling addiction is someone’s son, someone’s daughter, someone’s loved one — and they deserve a second chance.” He said that “Let the celebration not be just a day of speeches.

Let it be a day of reflection, of renewed commitment, and of action. Let us promise that we will not look away, that we will not let another life be lost to silence, stigma, or inaction.

Together, we can build a world where people live with dignity, not dependency. A world where prevention is prioritized, treatment is accessible, and recovery is celebrated.”

PEACE SALONE CEO thanked the government of Sierra Leone for its support to the rehabilitation center in the Southern Region and the other part of the country, noting that he was impressed with the testimonies of the service users at Gondama that they are now reformed or rehabilitated and they are now determined to say no to drug abuse.

He thanked Winners Chapel for praying and preaching the Word of God to them in order to be transformed to be reintegrated back to their communities to serve as ambassadors of Positive Change, which can be a testimony to draw the unsaved to Christ.

The Center Coordinator of the National Rehabilitation Centre on Drugs and Substance Abuse in the Southern Region, Piloya Grace Nollahh thanked PEACE SALONE for engaging the Service Users on the implication of drug abuse and thanked the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Social Welfare and its partners for their support to the rehabilitation center, pointing out that the discharge of the first batch of Service Users at Gondama in the Southern region will be done in July this year.

She said that there has been tremendous improvement in the lives of the Service Users, with the involvement God through prayers from a church in Bo called Winners Chapel and the Service Users can now happy with Christ in them and are now determined to say no drug abuse, which polluted their lives.

The acting Health Advocacy Officer of PEACE SALONE, James Fawundu said that the service Users should now become Ambassadors of Positive as they are knowledgeable about the implication of drug Abuse and that he was happy with the questions asked by the service Users,with appropriate medical response will help them stay away from Kush, tramadaor and other harmful drugs that has a huge health implication on their lives.

The Development Officer of PEACE SALONE, Jeremiah Stevens said that his organization is local Non-Governmental Organization with a mission to guard democracy, campaigner of peace, good governance and socio-economic of Sierra Leone and the Vision is to have a society with people who are well empowered with knowledge or ideas to make an informed decision to improve their lives.

He said that engaging the young people at the rehabilitation center will go a long way to have them empowered with knowledge to stay away from drug abuse.