Guyana Health Authorities Concerned About High Rate Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse Among The Country’s Youth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, May 30, 2018 (CMC) – Guyana health authorities are launching a substance prevention program, aimed at reducing the abuse and misuse of drugs, particularly among young people.

The country’s Mental Health Unit (MHU) said the program will be launched, today, during the Ministry of Health’s inaugural four-day Expo.

It said research undertaken, here, has shown that the school-aged population, and other youths, are likely to abuse and misuse addictive substances.

MHU’s Health Education Officer, Tashia James, said this program is aimed at raising the awareness about the harmful effects of substance misuse among this target group, with the program, specifically, focusing on the physical and mental health challenges, resulting from overuse and misuse of alcohol.

“We have found that alcohol misuse is quite prevalent in Guyana and as such the mental health unit has chosen to launch this campaign at the Health expo, since the over-arching theme for this event is reaching for a better life with good health,” James said.

James said that total health starts with mental health, and is encouraging people to visit the mental health booths at the Health Expo, to obtain information on the services available.