Drug abuse is gradually eating away the future of South Sudan’s youth. In Juba, it is becoming a silent national crisis that need immediate attention.

Lately, the city and its outskirts have witnessed a surge in the use of harmful substances such as tramadol, morphine, cough syrups with codeine, amphetamines, and the notorious Benz-Hickson, locally known as “5.”

These drugs are not only destroying young lives but also fueling gang-related activities that threaten the peace and security of our communities.

Drug dealers often operating in plain sight, prey on many vulnerable youth, mostly underaged ones many of whom are unemployed and disillusioned. Dealers profit from the misery of the drug users while destabilizing society.

What is saddening is the fact that their activities, despite being known to law enforcement are left unchecked. This lack of checks often risks breeding a generation lost to addiction, violence, and crime. The consequences are visible: broken families, rising crime rates, school dropouts, and the erosion of social values.

The police must strengthen crackdowns on both drug dealers and users, not as a punitive measure alone, but as a strategy to rescue the country’s next generation. While rehabilitation and awareness campaigns are essential, firm action against suppliers and traffickers is imperative.

The government must enforcement must pair enforcement with rehabilitation and education through easily accessible alternatives to the streets such as access to schools, vocational training, and meaningful employment.

The country cannot afford to allow its young people to waste their potential under the influence of toxic substances. Every pill, every injection, every dose consumed is a step away from progress.

The battle against drugs is not just about law enforcement it is about safeguarding the nation’s future and the government must act decisively.