New research showing that some juveniles in three neighbouring St James districts see nothing wrong with marijuana, but are opting for alcohol because it is more affordable, has the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) concerned.
And the state agency thinks there is a need to replicate its study throughout Barbados.
Based on “reports received from key informants, namely community leaders and other social and criminal justice agency professionals”, the NCSA identified Haynesville, St James; New Orleans, St Michael; Crab Hill, St Lucy, and Six Roads, St Philip as places it would “seek to explore and understand social phenomena related to drug use”.
After recently conducting focus group interviews with 28 young people between the ages of 13 and 29 who reside in Haynesville, Durants Village and Holders Hill, NCSA published a 39-page report in which it raised several concerns.