Barbados to kick off Drug Prevention Campaign 2024

Bridgetown, Barbados: Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s administration to kick off the Drug Prevention Campaign for 2024 as the country reported many drug use cases amongst youth within the last decade.

It is to be noted that Yvette Goddard, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information, marked the start of Drug Awareness Month during his address on Sunday at the church service.

The campaign is being held under the theme, “Drug Awareness Month NCSA Strengthening Prevention.”

Notably, Permanent Secretary Goddard delivered the feature address on the update of the campaign on behalf of Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams.

“We have all seen an increase in substance use amongst young people in the last decade. In part because of a worldwide pro-drug use culture. Another staunch factor is the increased vulnerability of the family unit and …decreased community support”, she added.

Goddard further said the government is consistently committed to launching such programmes that will help deal with drug use cases. The NCSA is taking a step forward to conduct more research on people and their families so they will ensure the prevention of drugs.

“The Ministry and, by extension, the government continues to be committed to an evidence-based approach to the creation of drug prevention programming. The NCSA has been mandated to conduct more local research on the drug phenomenon to ensure that we distribute factual and timely information to all persons, especially to our families, to equip them with the knowledge needed to make timely and positive choices and increase productivity and economic prosperity”, Permanent Secretary stated.

Noting this, she urged society to contribute to this campaign and commit to bringing a positive response to the prevention of substance use. It is high that the nation deals with such serious problems at the individual, community, and national levels.

Moreover, members of the NSCA, representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, members of the Barbados Police Service and old scholars of the Christ Church High School, among other important guests, paid their presence at the special service.