MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the U.S. Department of State, is rolling out an evidence-based initiative across Liberian communities that tackles substance use.

The Strong Families Program is part of a broader public-health strategy that the Ministry of Health is championing, aimed at balancing prevention with treatment, harm reduction, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.

A health ministry release said Liberia stands among the first nations globally to adopt this family-skills approach, which UNODC hails as a proven method for preventing drug abuse and related social ills.

The statement further added that rather than waiting for addiction to take hold, the program equips caregivers with practical tools to improve communication, establish consistent rules, and foster nurturing home environments.

Health officials say that to date, more than one hundred families across several communities have participated in the program, and early signs point to tangible progress, emphasizing that drug use cannot be solved by law enforcement alone.