Sandy Lane boosts Project SOFT as NCSA warns of drug use at age eight

From left: Trustee with the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Mark Pendry, Camp Coordinator NCSA Makeada Bourne, Chairman of the NCSA Dr Abdon DaSilva, NCSA Manager Betty Hunte, Project Coordinator Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Nekei Grant, NCSA Deputy Manager Troy Wickham, and Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs and Information Joyanne Blackman-Jarvis (Photo credit: Lourianne Graham / Barbados TODAY) The head of the National Council of Substance Abuse is once again worried that more young people are using substances at an earlier age, linking this trend to new environments and relationships that might encourage drug use. NCSA Manager Betty Hunte spoke at a ceremony on Thursday, where the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust donated $60 000 to celebrate 24 years of Project SOFT. This is an NCSA programme that has helped over 900 children prepare for secondary school and deal with challenges like drug use. “Our school survey data show that some of our young people are beginning to experiment with adults as early as eight years old,” she said. “This is deeply concerning because we know that early initiation of substances can have significant consequences for young people if they progress to adulthood. “This early initiation has been linked to several poor outcomes, including poor academic performance, experiences with bullying, or bullying others, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, involvement in crime, and unfortunately, and ultimately, addiction.”​ Project SOFT works with young people to help them make important life choices, especially when they face peer pressure. Hunte explained that the move from primary to secondary school can be challenging for young people, and sometimes these challenges lead them to use substances. You Might Be Interested In “It is marked by multiple simultaneous things that are happening all at the same time,” she said. “It can be stressful, and young people sometimes turn to substance use to cope.” Hunte said Project SOFT was born out of these challenges to help as many young people as possible, directly and by involving their families. ​ “We felt that it was necessary to intervene before substance abuse began, with the hope of preventing or delaying its onset. And so we thought, by engaging young persons, not only preaching and teaching, but actively engaging them, that we would help them make critical life choices as they transition from one thing to the other.”​ “Over the 24 years of this programme, Project SOFT has directly impacted 915 participants,” Hunte disclosed, noting that they could only accept 40 children each year. ​ Hunte said that the NCSA created a broader programme that includes families to better protect young people.​ “This represents hundreds of opportunities to engage family members of those 915 participants; strengthen protective factors that support young people during critical stages of development,” she said. ​The Project Soft programme has also caught the attention of others in the region. St. Lucia joined the NCSA team to learn first-hand how the programme works.​ “They invested, and they allowed two of their staff members to come, see how it works, and so we hope that they’ll go back and get a Project SOFT in their country. For us, this is a significant acknowledgement of the strength and value of the programme.”​ She said the programme’s success comes from strong partnerships and shared responsibility, and that tackling youth drug abuse needs everyone to work together. She thanked the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust for supporting them over the past 17 years.​ The Trust is the main sponsor of Project SOFT. ​Sandy Lane Trustee Mark Pendry highlighted the importance of investing in young people and providing them with the tools and support to make good choices. ​ “One positive influence can make all the difference, be it one conversation, a mentor, a friend, or one person just saying simply, ‘I believe’,” he said. “This is what programmes like Project SOFT can provide. It’s an opportunity to make a different choice and to see that there are positive possibilities ahead. Even if this programme helps just one young person choose the transformative path, then our support will be more than worthwhile.” Pendry encouraged young people to carry the lessons and friendships from the programme with them into the future. (LG)