The Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat, the Pathfinders Club, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church convened last month to march against substance abuse.

The activity was held under the theme "Tobacco, A Threat to Development.” The theme was adopted from World No Tobacco Day 2017, observed on May 31.

Charmaine Hippolyte, Director of the Substance Abuse Secretariat said the activity aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco smoking.

“The clubs performed songs that convey the message that smoking is bad for health and that the use of tobacco is a threat, not only to health but also to social development,” she said.

Executive Secretary of the Saint Lucia Mission of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Roger Stephen, emphasized that the intention of the activity was to send a message to the youth regarding substance abuse.

“The message is clear,” Pastor Stephen said. “We want to let young people know that there is a future to look forward to, and that crime and drugs will not pay. We are now experiencing an escalation in crime and the use of drugs and alcohol. Statistics show that Saint Lucia is in the top ten when it comes to the use of alcohol per capita, and that is alarming.”

Preceded by a morning service, the Anti Substance Abuse march culminated at the Sun Valley Park where a message was delivered from keynote speaker Dr Stephen King.

The march against substance abuse was held on Saturday, May 24, in Bexon.