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Contributors

Patrick  Fearon,  Senior  Mental  Wellnes  Counsellor,  Boys  Training  Centre    Andrea  Alcide,  Social  Worker,  Boys  Training  Centre    Elvin  Ryan  Germain,  Activities  Coordinator,  Boys  Training  Centre    Robert   Huggins,   Programme   Officer,   Substance   Abuse   Advisory   Council   Secretariat  (SAACS)    Naomie  Grandison,  Registered  Nurse      

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CONTENTS    Purpose/Motivation  for  Amy  Winehouse  Foundation    

Why  Drug  awareness  at  Boys  Training  Centre?  

 

Outcomes  for  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

Activities  Framework  for  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

Topics/  Core  Lessons  of  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

Basic  Expectations  of  BTC  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

Budget  of  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

 

 

 

 

                         

 

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Purpose/Motivation  for  Amy  Winehouse  Foundation    

 The  purpose  of   this  program   is   to  develop  an  awareness  of   substance  abuse   in  young  

persons  and  to  collaborate  with  the  Boys  Training  Centre  to  rehabilitate  the  young  men  

in   its  care.    The   funding  agency   is   the  Amy  Winehouse  Foundation   (AWF).  The  goal  of  

the   Amy  Winehouse   Foundation   (AWF)   is   to   prevent   the   effects   of   drug   and   alcohol  

misuse   by   young   people.   It   also   aim   to   support,   inform   and   inspire   vulnerable   and  

disadvantaged  young  people  to  help  them  reach  their  full  potential.  

The  Foundation’s  work  focuses  on  three  core  areas    

1.  To  inform  and  educate  young  people  about  the  effects  of  drug  and  alcohol  misuse,  as  

well   as   to   support   those   seeking   help   for   their   problems   and   those   needing   on-­‐going  

support  in  their  recovery.    

2.  To  provide  support  for  those  most  vulnerable,  including  those  who  are  disadvantaged  

through  circumstance  or  at  high  risk  of  substance  misuse.    

3.  To  support  the  personal  development  of  disadvantaged  young  people  through  music    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why  Drug  awareness  at  Boys  Training  Centre?  

 

The  typical  ward  who  enters  the  Boys  Training  Centre  comes  from  a  background  of  high  

vulnerability  for  drug/substance  use/abuse  and  therefore  stands  to  benefit  significantly  

from  a  solid  drug  awareness  program.  Such  a  drug  awareness  program  is  an  important  

first   step   in   helping   such   vulnerable   youth   gain   the   upper   hand   in   confronting   the  

prevailing  issue  of  drugs/substance  use/abuse.  Among  the  factors  that  place  the  typical  

incoming  BTC  ward  at  high  risk  for  drug/substance  use/abuse,  are  the  following:  

• A   domestic   environment   in   which   close   family   members   casually   use/abuse  

drugs/substance  

• Background  or  domestic  circumstance  that  makes  it  easy  to  get  drafted  into  the  

drug  culture  

• Peers  who  casually  use/abuse  drugs/substance  

• Prior   benefits   (real   or   perceived),   through   illicit   involvement   in   the   drug  

culture          

• Deficit  of  proper   information  and  education  on   the  effects  of  drug/substance  

use/abuse  

• Other  social  deficits  that  characterize  much  of  the  incoming  BTC  population  of  

wards,   for   example,   illiteracy,   immature   moralities,   cognitive   distortions,   as  

well   as   a   variety   of   behavioural   disorders   such   as   Conduct   Disorder   and  

Oppositional  Defiant  Disorder.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Outcomes  for  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

• To  develop  and  implement  a  meaningful  project  in  collaboration  with  the  Amy  

Winehouse  Foundation  and  National  Substance  Abuse  Advisory.  

• To   inform  the  wards  and  staff  about  Saint  Lucia  policies   regarding   the  use  of  

drugs  and  alcohol,  as  well  as  the  legal  implications  and  consequences.    

• To  educate  the  wards  and  staff  about  the  effects  of  drug  and  alcohol  abuse  on  

overall  health,  wellness,  and  social  well  -­‐being.    

• To  support  the  wards  and  staff  struggling  with  drug  and  alcohol  related  issues  

by   having   referral   services   information   and   designated   staff   available   for  

counselling.  

• To  maintain  a  drug  and  alcohol  free  environment  by  informing,  educating,  and  

supporting  wards  and  staff.    

• To  present  project  results  to  the  project  stakeholders.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Activities  Framework  for    

Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

 

 

 

 

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Topics/  Core  Lessons    

 

 

 

 

Topic/Core  Lessons  

Resource  Persons  

(email  &  mobile)  

Proposed    

Duration  

1   Introduction  Session:  Drug  Awareness     Robert  Huggins    

Noamie  Grandison  

 

2nd  June  

2   Marajuana  And  Cocaine   Clement  Edward   9th    to  16th  June  

3   Alcohol     Mr.  Medouze   16th  to  23rd  June  

4   Misacalleous  Drugs   Barry  Modeste     23rd  to  30th  June  

5   Family  and  Society     30th  June  to  7th  July  

6   Pathway  to  addiction   Dr.  King    Angie  Montoute  

7th  to  14th  July  

7   Legal  implications  and  consequences   Lawyer/  police  officer  

Thomas  Theobalds  Al  Elliot  Jr.  Miguel  Lansiquot  Gros  Islet  Police  Officers  

14th  to  21st  July  

8   Health  Implications  and  consequences   Dr.  Gabriel  Dr.  Matthew      

21st  to  28th  July  

9   Staying  Drug  Free   Noamie  Grandison   28th  July  to  4th  August  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

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Basic  Expectations  for  the  Boys  Training  Centre’s    

Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

 

It   is  expected  that  by   the  end  of   the  Boys  Training  Centre’s  Drug  Awareness  Program,  

the  various  participants,  namely,  the  Wards  of  the  State  who  reside  at  the  Boys  Training  

Centre   throughout   the   running  of   the  program,  will  become  sufficiently  educated  and  

informed   in   the   essentials   of   the   topics   covered,   and  will   thus   be   better   equipped   to  

make  healthy  choices   for   themselves  concerning  Drugs  /  Substances.  The  participants,  

will,  at  the  very   least,  be  expected  to  verbally  or   in  writing,  satisfactorily  express  well-­‐

informed  views  on  the  topics  as  they  are  assessed  through  an  appropriate  Post-­‐Test  of  

the  program.  The  topics  of  the  Drug  Awareness  Program  are  as  follows:  

• Major  Drugs  /  Substances  that  are  Used/Abused,  or  likely  to  be  Used/Abused  

in   Saint   Lucia.   Examples:  Marijuana,   Alcohol,   Cocaine,   Amphetamines,   Heroin,  

Ecstasy,  etc.  The  taking  of  Prescription  Drugs  as  a  means  to  get  ‘high’  (especially  

medication   prescribed   for   other   persons)   is   to   be   addressed.   A   look   at  

Alternative   /   Miscellaneous   Substances   that   are   used   to   alter   one’s   mood   or  

mental  state  (for  example,  sniffing  glue  or  smoking  the  contents  of  tea  bags,  or  

using   an   assorted  mixture   of   Cocaine/Tobacco/Various   Plants—‘Ta-­‐bag-­‐jab’),   is  

to  be  discussed  in  this  topic.  

• Misconceptions  or  Erroneous  Beliefs  Concerning  Drug  Use  /  Substance  Use   in  

Society.  EXAMPLES:  Some  youths  believe  that  ‘ordinary’  young  people  who  live  

in   ‘normal’  homes  or  who  go  to  a  top  school,  or  persons  who  hold  decent   jobs  

don’t  use  drugs  or  get  addicted.  Some  youths  believe  that  drug  addicts  are  only  

the  people  who  sleep  on   the  streets  and  walk  around  as   ‘jombies’  or  who  use  

guns  or  knives  to  rob  people   in  order  to  get  money  to  buy  drugs.  Some  youths  

say   that   if   people   want   to   use   drugs   the   Government   should   not   stop   them  

because  it  is  their  life  and  what  they  do  with  their  life  is  nobody’s  business.  Some  

youths  believe  that  using  drugs   is  not  such  a  bad  idea  because  drugs  can  make  

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you   feel   ‘nice’  when   you   get   frustrated.   Some   youths   insist   that   dealing   in,   or  

using  illegal  drugs  is  okay  or  good,  especially  if  a  person  is  poor  and  the  police  do  

not  catch  him/her).  

• Defining   Drug/Substance   Use,   Drug/Substance   Abuse,   Drug/Substance  

Dependency.  A  clear  delineation  of  what  it  means  to  be  classified  as  any  of  the  

following:    a)  Drug  User,  b)  Drug  Abuser,  c)  Drug  Dependent  Person.  

• Pathway  to  Addiction:  understanding  the  Basic  Physiological  and  Psychological  

Processes  or  Steps  that  lead  people  into  Addiction  or  Compulsive  Behaviours.  

• Health  Implications:  common  Health  Issues  associated  with  Drug/Substance  Use,  

Drug/Substance  Abuse,   or  Drug/Substance  Dependency.   Examples   include  both  

psychological   and  physical  health   issues   such  as  exacerbation  of  mental  health  

disorders;   physical   diseases   such   as   Sexually   Transmitted   Diseases   (STDs)  

including  HIV/AIDS,  to  which  people  become  more  susceptible  through  high  risk  

behaviours   and   practices  when   under   the   influence   of   drugs   or   alcohol;   other  

health  problems  related  to  alcohol  abuse—  Cirrhosis  of   the  Liver,  Fetal  Alcohol  

Syndrome;   illnesses  or   risks  associated  with   intravenous  drug  use—Hepatitis  C;  

other   physical   diseases   associated   with   substance   use   (including   nicotine  

addiction   /   chronic   tobacco   use—lung   cancer,   emphysema,   bronchitis,   chronic  

obstructive  pulmonary  disease—COPD),  etc;  health  implications  associated  with  

violence  and  accidents,  which  people  become  more  susceptible  to  when  under  

the   influence   of   alcohol   or   drugs—statistics   from   domestic   abuse   and   traffic  

accidents/road  accidents  associated  with  use/abuse  of  drugs  or  alcohol.  

• Legal   Implications   of   Involvement   with   drugs,   whether   as   Drug   User,   Drug  

Abuser,   Drug   Dependent,   or   Drug   Distributor,   etc.   What   are   the   Illegal   Acts  

related   to   Drugs   /   Substances   in   society?   Examples:   Trafficking,   Distributing,  

Using,  Public  Intoxication,  Operating  a  Vehicle  under  the  Influence  of  Intoxicants,  

Selling  Alcohol   or   Tobacco   to  Minors,   Peddling  Alcohol   or   Tobacco  without   the  

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Requisite   License,   Dispensing   Prescription   Medication   without   Legal  

Authorization,  etc.  

• Social  and  Domestic   Impact  on  the  Family  and  Society.  For  example,  domestic  

impact  of  alcoholism  or  drug  addiction  such  as  abusive  and  assaultive  behaviours  

in   the   home;   neglect   or   abandonment   of   responsibilities;   financial   toll   to   feed  

addictive   habits;   monetary   cost   to   meet   legal   fees   associated   with   arrest;  

personal,   domestic   and   social   embarrassment   or   stigma   associated   with  

imprisonment  or  incarceration.  

• Staying  Drug  Free   /  Becoming  Drug   free:   The  way  out   (or   the  way   forward)   if  

you  had  already  started  using  or  abusing  drugs.  What  you  can  do  to  stay  drug-­‐

free,   for   example,   using   drug   awareness   information   and   knowledge   in   a  

responsible  manner;  understanding  the   Impact  of  Peers  as  well  as   the  Value  of  

Accountability.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Budget  for  the  Drug  Awareness  Program  

 

Expenses   Projected

Cost

Administration  Fees    

Certificates/tokens   $350.00  

Rental  of  Venue(s)   $200.00  

Transportation   $200.00  

Rental  of  Equipment   $200.00  

Administration  Sub  Total   $950.00  

Printing  and  Stationery    

Stationery   $200.00  

Printing  material     $100.00  

Other  printing   $40.00  

Program/Session  booklets   $0.00  

Printing  and  Stationery  Sub  Total   $340.00  

Food  and  Beverage  Cost    

Drinks   $200.00  

Fruits   $75.00  

Snacks   $120.00  

Water   $95.00  

Lunch   $150.00  

Food  &  Beverage  Sub  Total   640.00  

Miscanellous  Cost    

Contingency  cost   $270.00  

Miscanlleous  Cost  Sub  Total   $270.00  

Total  Budget   $2200.00  

     

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 References  

 

• Schools  Based  Education  for  Drug  Free  Prevention  

    By  United  Nations,  Office  of  Drug  and  Crime,  2004  

 

• Drug   Education:   Programmes   and   Methodology.   An   Overview   of  

Opportunities  for  Drug  Prevention  by  UNESCO,  Preventionof  Drug  Abuse  Unit,  

Division  of  Renovation  Educational  Curricula  and  Structures  

 

 

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 Appendix  

 In  light  of  the  academic  level  at  which  most  of  the  participants  function,  the  Pre-­‐Test  

and  Post-­‐Test  need  to  be  very  simple.  See  sample  Pre-­‐Test  below    

 

SAMPLE  PRETEST  ANSWER  TRUE  or  FALSE  TO  THE  FOLLOWING  STATEMENTS:  

 

1. It  is  legal  for  young  persons  to  buy  and  drink  alcohol  in  Saint  Lucia  because  

alcohol  is  a  legal  substance  in  Saint  Lucia.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

2. Ordinary  youths  who  live  in  a  ‘good’  home  with  a  father  and  mother  who  are  

both  working,  and  who  go  to  top  schools  such  as  Saint  Joseph’s  Convent  or  Saint  

Mary’s  College,  are  not  at  risk  for  using  drugs  or  becoming  addicted.  TRUE  /  

FALSE  

3. It  is  safe  to  try  any  drug  just  once.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

4. Drug  dependency  is  the  same  thing  as  drug  abuse.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

5. When  a  person  decides  to  use  drugs  for  the  first  time,  it  is  usually  a  matter  of  

choice  to  start,  but  when  the  person  becomes  addicted  or  dependent  on  the  

drugs,  it  is  a  more  complicated  matter  than  simply  making  a  choice  to  stop.  TRUE  

/  FALSE  

6. It  is  a  safe  idea  to  use  drugs  as  much  as  you  want  to  as  a  youth  and  don’t  worry  

about  addiction  as  long  as  you  plan  to  make  a  change  and  stop  using  drugs  as  

soon  as  you  become  an  adult.  TRUE  /  FALSE    

7. Drugs  can  make  mental  health  problems  become  worse.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

8. Driving  while  intoxicated  or  drunk  is  not  against  the  law  in  Saint  Lucia.  TRUE  /  

FALSE  

 

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9. People  who  are  drug  addicts  or  alcohol  dependent  can  easily  stop  using  drugs  or  

drinking  alcohol  any  time  they  wish  to  do  so.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

10. Using  drugs  or  alcohol  can  result  in  young  people  becoming  engaged  in  high-­‐risk  

sexual  behaviours  that  increase  the  young  persons’  chance  of  getting  a  Sexually  

Transmitted  Disease  (STD)  such  as  Syphilis,  Gonorrhea,  HIV/AIDs,  etc.    TRUE  /  

FALSE  

11. Taking  drugs  intravenously  (that  is,  using  a  needle  to  inject  drugs  into  your  body  

through  a  vein)  is  a  healthy  habit  as  long  as  you  use  a  clean  needle.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

12. If  two  people  are  quarrelling  at  home  it  is  a  good  idea  for  one  of  them  to  just  sit  

down  and  drink  a  few  glasses  of  rum  or  a  few  bottles  of  beer,  while  he/she  

listens  carefully  to  how  the  other  person  is  cursing  him/her.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

13. Dealing  with  drugs  is  good  if  you  make  money  from  it  and  don’t  get  caught  by  

the  police,  especially  if  you  are  poor  and  don’t  have  a  job.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

14. It  is  okay  to  use  my  mother’s  prescription  medication  to  get  high.  Nothing  is  

wrong  with  that  because  it  is  the  doctor  who  gave  the  medication  to  my  mother.  

TRUE  /  FALSE  

15. Peers  can  influence  your  attitude  to  drugs,  so  in  order  to  stay  drug  free  you  must  

be  careful  to  know  how  your  peers  are  influencing  you.  TRUE  /  FALSE  

16. Once  a  person  becomes  a  drug  abuser  or  a  drug  addict,  there  is  no  hope  of  

changing,  so  the  person  should  not  waste  his/her  time  trying  to  change.  TRUE  /  

FALSE