Competition winners promote non-alcoholic use

The chief judge in a local anti-alcohol competition has praised the participants for their outstanding work.

Educator Stacia Burrowes says the judges were impressed by the high quality of writing and organised presentations in the just concluded National Council on Substance Abuse’s (NCSA) Drink Water Not Alcohol Competition.

Her assessment came amidst recent reports that children have admitted to drinking liquor in a survey commissioned by the council.

During the competition’s ceremony, NCSA’s Deputy Manager Troy Wickham expressed concerns that the council’s National Primary Survey had shown that just over half, 56.2 per cent of all students who participated in the 2017 survey, reported the use of some drug during their lifetime.

In May 2021, Wickham also revealed that children as young as 12 had admitted to drinking alcohol, a development which prompted the NCSA to laud Parliament’s move to raise the minimum drinking age to 18, as a step in the right direction.

Wickham said alcohol was most popular, followed by energy drinks and inhalants, with the average age of first use being between seven and eight years old.

The Deputy Manager said the council, which has been working with young persons since 1995, takes very seriously, its mandate to reduce drug use in schools and the wider community.

“In keeping with this mandate, the council has recognised that there is a need for activities like this to buttress our drug education programmes to assist us with creating the right environment to aid our nation’s youth with their drug refusal skills.”

Burrowes, who was assisted by Scott Headley with the judging process, said compared to previous NCSA school competitions, there was a reduction in the number of submissions for the Drink Water Not Alcohol competition held in 2021, however, she reported a noticeable improvement in the quality of writing.

“Those of you receiving awards today should be proud. Indeed all of you should be proud as you have demonstrated a knowledge and understanding of the impact of drugs on the body and society at large
that can only augur well for the future as I am sure that you will use this knowledge and understanding for the upliftment of the society.

“Many of your pieces were infused with your passion and with only a glance at the scripts one could see future advocates in the area of education, domestic violence prevention, child abuse prevention, anti-bullying and of course drug abuse prevention.

“Thank you for making me and other teachers feel that we are not babysitting you, but that you are actually taking in what we are saying.

Thank you for the show of empathy which many say is lacking nowadays but was so evident in your writing,” Burrowes said during a prizegiving ceremony held via Zoom on Monday.

In the written category of the competition, Samaria Williams placed first, Shania Thomas, secondand Sarah Bisram, third. In the video category, Lauryn Small was first, Roshauna Clarke, second and Kadian Moore, third position. For their contribution, Sanaa Elcock, Claudelle Goddard and Sandana Thorpe received special mentions.

Wickham said information in the videos and short stories will be posted on the NCSA’s website and all social media pages where it can be seen and heard across the globe.

“The NCSA wishes to encourage you to continue to participate in initiatives like this and to encourage your peers to be drug free. Be drug free ambassadors,” Wickham told the participants.

Meanwhile, Chairman of NCSA’s Board of Directors Hadford Howell, stressed that substance abuse helps to damage societies, and made the call for all stakeholders to continue to fight against the societal ill.

He also thanked the sponsors and organisers of the competition, including the NCSA’s communication consultant, Deanzer Roberts and her support team, for their contribution. (AH)