Ayodele Cudjoe

Drug-use Outreach and Prevention Emergency Reform

Ayodele Cudjoe - 22 July 2023

Hailing from a twin island republic rich in culture, Youths of Trinidad and Tobago (YTTAD) in an effort to treat with the prevention of drug and substance use, will be launching the Drug-use Outreach and Prevention Emergency Reform (D.O.P.E.R). D.O.P.E.R will be initiated in the community of Biche, Trinidad and Tobago for youths 13-17. Biche is situated along the Cunapo Southern main road, Trinidad and is mostly Africans and East Indians.The issue of drugs in Biche has become 48% more prevalent in the last 5 years. Age 13 is the average age for drug use among youth in Biche. An average of 1 in every 10 boys that enter into the Biche High School drop out and turn to a life of drugs. The level of academic achievement has dropped considerably and even lower for that of males. This programme will be done throughout the year to reduce the use of drugs in the community by 20% it will be a hybridized programme of both virtual and face to face interventions.