By Idrissa Bangura

As drug intake and criminal activities become alarming in most parts in Sierra Leone, a senior voice at internal affairs ministry has promised to curb the social menace among youth drug addicts.

A series of skill training programs are expected to be rolled out in various communities to prevent young people from taking hard drugs.

The programs will be helpful in societies which focus on guiding young people to stop taking harmful drugs and engaging in criminal activities.

“The issue of youths embarking on communal theft in order to meet the financial demand of drugs is becoming so common,” Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen Rtd T. O. Taluva, said at a government meeting.

But it seems, there is a way to deal with this problem.

Minister Taluva said psychiatrist doctors had advised that sick drug-addicts will now be treated as criminals rather than patients or drug addicts when taken for medical attention by their close relatives.

He said they’ve developed security strategies seeking to curb the social menace in the country.

The minister said security is of paramount to the survival or existence of any country in the world.

Since internal affairs ministry duties span on safeguarding cross border security issues, Mr. Taluva said, a joint effort by sectors and stakeholders in communities in the hinterlands is needed by all to shoulder their responsibilities.

“Security threat is a societal issue that concerns every citizen,” he said.

He said the security of any country cannot flourish without the help of youth, adding that they can serve in various positions as taskforce individuals.

The Minister emphasized on the seriousness of the youths to become meaningful citizens in the country.

He cited the role youth have to play in order to become important citizens in society.

Minister Taluva continued to deliberate about the ministry’s plan to train police officers on the rehabilitation of youths, and such project he said, is expected to commence by December this year. But most concerned citizens say internal affairs ministry seems not to be given serious attention on the social menace of drug consumption by some youth and the rampant crime rates in the country.

“Why would the ministry not taking up the issue than to wait to train police in December? That tells you how they are not up for the task?” asked a Freetownian resident.

On his speech, the minister said: “…victims of drug addicts or patients are to be taken to drug rehabilitation centers,” he said.

But there are not enough centres and many have been taken to prisons, he said, adding that those victims have been taken care.

He added that some are having serious sores on their feet.

On a similar issue, Mr. Taluva, has debunked the allegation of Pee Cee and Sons that they’re importing containers filled with the kush drug.