3 rd Biennial Meeting of Caribbean National Observatories on Drugs Roseau, Dominica Student Drug Use in the Caribbean: A Critical Analysis For Policy Makers Pernell Clarke Inter-American Observatory on Drugs CICAD August 4-6, 29
Summary Introduction How this all started Current Status General and Specific objectives Methodology Results Conclusions Implications of Results Discussion 8/28/29 2
Participating Countries Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts & Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Objectives General Objectives To estimate the magnitude of illicit and licit drug use among secondary school students in the Caribbean and its distribution according to select demographic variables To determine the perceived risk of drug use, access to drugs, availability of drugs, and frequency of use To examine risk and protective factors for drug use by school students. 8/28/29 4
The Questionnaire Demographics Performance in school Beliefs about future education Delinquency Perception of risk Prevalence, Incidence, Frequency of Use Availability of drugs Other (depending on requirements of country)
RESULTS 8/28/29 6
Alcohol
Lifetime Last year, and last month prevalence of alcohol 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 Lifetime Prevalance Last Year Prevalence Last Month Prevalence 3 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Month Prevalence of Alcohol Use by Gender 7 6 5 4 3 Males Females 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Month Prevalence of Alcohol Use by Age Group 8 7 6 5 4 14 years old or less 15 16 years old 17 years old or more 3 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Year Incidence of Alcohol Use 8 7 67.41 6 59.95 57.89 5 4 44.72 49.73 39.47 42.88 42.23 45.23 37.41 3 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Average Age of First Use of Alcohol by Gender 16 14 12 1 8 Males Females 6 4 2 Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Lats year Prevalence of Alcohol Use by Behavioural Problems 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 Never Few Times Frequently 3 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
% of Current Drinkers Who Binged 6 51.8 5 43.1 48.5 46 43.8 4 35.8 31.2 32.9 31.3 3 25.6 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Marijuana
Prevalence of Marijuana Use 35 3 25 2 15 Lifetime Prevalance Last Year Prevalence 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Year Prevalence of Marijuana Use by Gender 3 25 2 15 Males Females 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Month Prevalence of Marijuana Use by Age Group 25 2 15 1 14 years old or less 15 16 years old 17 years old or more 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Year Prevlence of Marijuana Use for Students 14 Years and Younger 12 1 8 6 4 2 Haiti Trinidad & Tobago Guyana Barbados St. Vincent & the Grenadines Antigua & Barbuda St. Kitts and Nevis Grenada Jamaica Dominica
Last Year Incidence of Marijuana Use 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Average (median) Age of First Use of Marijuana by Gender 16 14 12 1 8 Males Females 6 4 2 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Lifetime Prevalence by Behavioural Problems During School Years 6 5 4 3 Never Few Times Frequently 2 1 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Lifetime Prevalence of Marijuana Use by Number of School Years Repeated 5 45 4 35 3 25 None One or More 2 15 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Ease of Obtaining Marijuana 1% 8% 6% 4% Don t Know Impossible to Obtain Difficult Easy 2% % Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Past Year Prevalence of Marijuana Use by Ease of Obtaining it 35 3 25 2 15 Easy Difficult Impossible to Ob Don t Know 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Relationship between Access and Prevalence 6 5 easy to acces (%) 4 3 2 1 5 1 15 2 Last year prevalence
Lifetime Prevalance of Cigarettes vs Marijuana 4 35 3 25 2 Cigarettes Marijuana 15 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Year Prevalence of Cigarette vs Marijuana Use 2 18 16 14 12 1 Cigarettes Marijuana 8 6 4 2 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Last Month Prevalence of Cigarette Use vs. Marijuana Use 14 12 1 8 6 Cigarettes Marijuana 4 2 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Inhalants
Prevalence of Inhalant Use 3 25 2 15 Lifetime Last Year Last Month 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Lifetime Prevalence of Inhalant Use by Gender 35 3 25 2 15 Males Females 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Prevalence of the Use of Stimulants 25 2 15 1 Lifetime Last Year Last Month 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Prevalence of Tranquilisers 3 25 2 15 Lifetime Last Year Last Month 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Prevalence of Tobacco Use (cigarettes) 4 35 3 25 2 Lifetime Last Year Last Month 15 1 5 Antigua & Barbuda Barbados Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago
Lifetime and One Year Prevalence of Cocaine Use 4.5 4 4.12 3.5 3.12 3 2.78 2.69 2.5 2 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.27 Lifetime Prevalence Past Year Prevalence 1.5 1.5 1.6.92.69.51 1.5 1 1.49 1.22 1.48.77.53.32.7.17.91.49 ANTIGUA BARBADOS DOMINICA GRENADA GUYANA HAITI JAMAICA STKITTS STLUCIA STVINCENT SURINAME TRINIDAD
Prevalence of Crack Use 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 Lifetime Past Year 1.5 1.5 ANTIGUA BARBADOS DOMINICA GRENADA GUYANA HAITI JAMAICA STKITTS STLUCIA STVINCENT SURINAME TRINIDAD
Lifetime Prevalence of Ecstacy 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1.5 ANTIGUA BARBADOS DOMINICA GRENADA GUYANA HAITI JAMAICA STKITTS STLUCIA STVINCENT SURINAME TRINIDAD
Analysis of Results The substances used are more or less the same from country to country but, at the same time, each country has its own unique pattern of use.
Analysis of Results By far the most widely consumed substance is alcohol and this is followed by marijuana. Alcohol use is widespread and its legality, acceptance, and easy availability contribute to this situation. Prevalence is relatively high but there is plenty of variability from country to country. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance and in most cases, its use is even more prevalent than tobacco.
Analysis of Results Tobacco, consumed via cigarettes, is subject to more experimentation than marijuana but has a lower rate of current use in the majority of countries.
Analysis of Results Other substances of note include cocaine, crack, and ecstasy. The rates of past year use of these substances for most countries are less than 1%, but there are a few countries such as Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, and St. Kitts where the prevalence rates are more than twice those of some other countries and present a cause for some concern.
Analysis of Results The results for inhalants have been the most surprising obtained so far. Even though there has not been any significant indication (whether anecdotal or otherwise) prior to now that inhalants are a problem, the rates of use obtained for a number of the countries were much higher than expected.
Analysis of Results There is wide variability and inconsistency of prevalence and incidence data for inhalant use. These results suggest the need for further research to corroborate these results and to obtain the reasons for these levels of use.
Analysis of Results There seems to be a clear relationship between behavior problems and substance use such that for most substances students with more behavioral problems report higher prevalence rates. Similarly the relationship of substance use with school performance for all substances is clearly also a positive one.
Analysis of Results Drug use and gender do not have a consistent relationship from substance to substance. The substances that are smoked (tobacco and marijuana) seem to be preferred more by males than females. On the other hand, the analysis of alcohol use and gender show that gender is not as significant a factor in predicting use among students.
Policy Implications Each country in this study now has some idea about what the main drugs of use are, and what the extent of use is. In relation to other regions, the prevalence of use of some of these substances particularly marijuana and inhalants, is relatively high. The age of first use estimates are fairly consistent across countries so the specific point in time where prevention programs intervene can also be fairly uniform. This lends itself to the development of a regional program which is applied in a particular grade or class level starting in primary schools and continuing into the secondary school system.
Policy Implications The variability of prevalence from country to country will inform the way that the prevention programs are designed and customized to each country. For example, the past month prevalence of marijuana use in Dominica is more than 11% while the corresponding figure for Haiti is less than 1%. Therefore the structure and emphasis of the prevention programs in those two countries will have to be different based on the specifics of the drug patterns in the country.
Thank You 8/28/29 49