Recent screening of more than 6,000 secondary school students has found that 43% had consumed alcohol, 32% engaged in vaping and 5% had used cannabis, figures Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday described as “alarming” as he warned that substance misuse among young people requires urgent intervention.
Speaking at the national observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Anthony said the findings underscored the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies to prevent substance abuse among children before it escalates.
“These results are alarming, and therefore we must develop programmes and interventions to prevent it from getting worse,” the minister said, according to a Ministry of Health statement.
Anthony noted that alcohol often serves as a gateway to the use of more dangerous substances and said the Ministries of Health and Education must work together to build resilience among young people against peer pressure.
“If there’s any takeaway, let’s think about what we can do to prevent harm in our children,” he said.
To strengthen the country’s treatment capacity, Anthony announced that the ministry has partnered with Mount Sinai Health System to provide specialised training in addiction medicine for local health professionals.
Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh, also addressed the ceremony and said the global illicit drug trade continues to expand in scale and sophistication, while Guyana’s geographic position has made it increasingly attractive to transnational criminal organisations.
Citing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025, Singh said an estimated 316 million people worldwide used drugs during the past year, with cannabis remaining the most commonly used illicit substance at approximately 244 million users. He added that cocaine has become the fastest-growing illicit drug market globally.
According to Singh, global cocaine production reached a record 3,708 tonnes in 2023, nearly 34% higher than the previous year, while global cocaine seizures increased by 68% between 2019 and 2023.
“These are not abstract statistics. They represent the scale of the criminal enterprise that threatens our communities, our institutions, and our future,” he said.
He noted that this year’s World Drug Day theme, “Break the Cycle. Stop Organised Crime,” recognises that illicit drug trafficking is linked to terrorism financing, violent conflict, human trafficking, money laundering and environmental destruction.
Singh said the Caribbean has once again become a major transit corridor for cocaine destined for West Africa and Europe, reflecting shifts in global trafficking routes.
Strengthen
Despite those pressures, he said, Guyana has continued to strengthen intelligence-led operations, border security and partnerships with local and international agencies.
Over the past five years, CANU and the Guyana Police Force have seized approximately 14,493.94 kilogrammes of narcotics with an estimated street value of US$35 million.
However, Singh stressed that enforcement alone would not solve the country’s drug problem.
“Reducing the supply of illicit drugs must be matched by equally strong efforts to reduce the demand for them,” he said.
He added that CANU has significantly expanded its prevention and awareness programmes over the past two years, reaching thousands of Guyanese through visits to schools, communities, workplaces, religious organisations and youth groups. For 2026 alone, more than 2,400 persons have participated in school and community outreach activities.
“These engagements are not a show or some PR stunt. They are investments in the long-term resilience of our communities, empowering young people to make informed decisions, strengthening families with accurate information, and promoting healthier lifestyles free from drugs and substance misuse,” he said.
Singh also highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening Guyana’s response to drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Among them is the Guyana Drug Information Network (GUYDIN), which serves as the country’s national drug observatory by collecting and analysing data to support policymaking.
He also pointed to the National Early Warning System, launched in October last year with support from the Organisation of American States, which allows authorities to rapidly identify and communicate emerging drug threats. During the first half of this year, the system issued alerts on the circulation of MDMA (ecstasy) and illegal THC vaping products, particularly those targeting young people.
In addition, Singh said CANU launched “The Truth About Drugs” digital platform and booklet series in May to provide evidence-based information on the dangers of drug use, particularly for youth.
He underscored the importance of international cooperation, noting that CANU continues to collaborate with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, CARICOM IMPACS, the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission and the UNODC through intelligence sharing, joint operations, training and technical assistance.
Calling on parents, teachers, faith leaders and community organisations to play a greater role in prevention, Singh said conversations at home and timely interventions could alter the course of a young person’s life.
“The battle against narcotics is won not only in the field but also at the dinner table, in the classroom, on the block, and in the choices we make every single day,” he said.
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