The Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat (SAACS) within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at deterring smoking and raising awareness about its health risks, particularly amid growing concerns over vaping and increased public use of tobacco and cannabis products.
In a video statement released on May 4, Acting Deputy Coordinator of SAACS, Caleb Paul, underscored the urgency of addressing what he described as an emerging public health challenge, pointing to a rise in smoking-related illnesses across Saint Lucia.
“The main aim is to bring the truth out as it pertains to the harms associated with all types of smoking and we know that it’s important for the time that we find ourselves in Saint Lucia with the epidemic of illnesses like COPD,” Paul said.
He added that the initiative is focused on prevention, particularly among young people.
“We really want to take a preventative step especially saving our young persons from reaching to that point where they have to be hooked up to some type of oxygen or struggling to take their next breath. So, it’s really a matter of saving the next generation from these issues.”
The campaign will adopt a multi-sectoral approach, targeting priority groups including the business community, schools, event organizers and wider communities.
A key feature involves the use of peer educators drawn from youth and sporting groups to help amplify the message.
“We are using peer helpers, persons who are parts of sports groups and other young groups that target young persons, and we’ll be training them how to develop those messages, giving them the information as well as to the dangers associated to all types of smoking,” Paul explained.
Workplace engagement will also form a critical pillar of the initiative, with SAACS offering presentations and training sessions to organizations seeking to address substance use among employees.
“We’ll be doing presentations at the workplaces, we’ll be having trainings at these workplaces, again targeting workplaces where we observe persons having these issues,” he said, while encouraging businesses to request sessions through the Secretariat.
Public awareness will be driven through an extensive media campaign spanning both traditional and digital platforms.
“Persons will see through social media our different products through public service announcements. Persons would see billboards going up in their communities with images that will catch their attention, and we want persons to interact with these messages when they see them,” Paul noted.
He added that the campaign will leverage widely used platforms to maximize reach and engagement.
“You would see them through your WhatsApp, through your Instagram, you would see these billboards, and we want you to share it with persons around you, in your social groups so everyone can hear the message. So, you would see us on the television at your favorite shows both radio and television.”
Officials say sustained public participation and cross-sector collaboration will be essential in reducing smoking rates and mitigating long-term health risks across the island.