Liberia: Assessing my community by Tania De La Fuente https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt Answer the questions with information about your country and community en-us 2022-02-02 04:45:11 UTC 2022-02-03 11:34:48 UTC hello@padlet.com The Water In the Desert (VOA 1)community is religiously strong community. Self employment is common in this community with most people involved in small businesses (mostly among the females, while the males are mostly involved with fishing activities and transportation business). grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026242777 2022-02-02 20:21:57 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026242777 Water In the Desert (VOA 1) community is located south of Montserrado county, Liberia with an estimated population of 9,000 to 11,000 people. Around 70 percent of the population in this community are youth. grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026323639 This community is very religious 50% Muslim, 40% Christian and 10% traditional worshippers. 
The citizens of this community are very ethnically related. 
As majority of the citizens are self employed business people and students social activities are also a huge part of the people's livelihood from sports (football predominantly) to other entertainment. 

Unemployment is high and the most people are poor only depending these little business and support from family member in the diaspora which makes them vulnerable and idle increasing the chance of using and abusing substances.]]> 2022-02-02 21:18:06 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026323639 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026398996 The substance abuse situation has been on the increase over the last two decades. The drug abuse problem can be view from both prevalence and incidence concepts. The most common drugs/substances in this community are marijuana or weed, alcohol, crack cocaine and tramadol (incidence drug).
Idleness and hard labour jobs is a driving force for high substance abuse. 

Vulnerability fuelled by high unemployment introduces the use of substances to reduce stress. Also due to the low level of education amongst the citizens of this community most of the non self employed workers are into hard labour jobs in construction, tradition unsophisticated fishing and subsistence farming. With the nature of these kind of jobs the use of tramadol (a legal drug) as energy booster when over dosed has widely spread in recent years (at least in the last 12 years). 

The problem is on the increase because there is a huge ghetto of addicts in the public cemetery where drugs are easily sold and the local law enforcement department has ran out of ideas to control the situation as a result of lack of manpower, logistics, rehab facilities, etc.  
The substance users are aware of this problem but lack cooperation due to limited education or sensitisation and the lack of parental control because major of the youths in this community don't live with their parent from mostly from 17 above.
 ]]> 2022-02-02 22:26:57 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026398996 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026424788 Substance use is gradually being an accepted norm in this community especially alcohol. The influx of locally made beverages of very high alcohol percentage on the local market being accepted without any question these days and is consumed at most social gatherings.

The lack of social programs and will by elders & the local authority engage this problem is a serious concern. ]]> 2022-02-02 22:55:27 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026424788 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026426644 Youth from age 15 to 23 years old are the vulnerable group especially in the male population. ]]> 2022-02-02 22:57:42 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2026426644 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027208698 This community needs mostly all form of prevention interventions which includes universal, selective and indicated.]]> 2022-02-03 10:33:01 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027208698 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027270316 There are many forms of impediments for evidence based prevention implementation; the general acceptance of alcohol, illiteracy, lack of rehabilitation program, limited or no social programs for the youths, etc.
Parental control in this community is not so strong.]]> 2022-02-03 11:16:04 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027270316 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027284514 Prevention intervention can be delivered through social media campaign, youth empowerment programs, parent prevention education workshops and youth training on the harm of drug abuse. 
Increase advocacy for sensible drug laws. ]]> 2022-02-03 11:26:21 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027284514 grant15bennsnoh https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027295879 Unfortunately, not so much has been done in evidence-based prevention in this community except for flyers distribution and once in awhile town hall talks. ]]> 2022-02-03 11:34:48 UTC https://padlet.com/delafuentepsic/1olkeqhionxtqowt/wish/2027295879