The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS among young people in ...

marijuana. Youth use marijuana. The two most commonly used drugs is marijuana and
alcohol.” [males and females, 14-24, in and out of school]
Cocaine was reported as a new drug amongst young adults. Participants indicated that cocaine was a
hard-core drug generally used by older persons and those more mature in their drug usage. Cocaine
was perceived as a highly addictive substance and was therefore avoided by young persons. It was
further stated that very few persons in Grenada used heroin.
Combining drugs
The findings indicated that out-of-school boys 14-16 years were combining hemp with marijuana to
obtain a different experience. They further stated that hemp and weed were good because they are
herbs.
“When you smoke the hemp and the weed together you get a different vibes, a meditation.
Weed is a good thing the hemp and thing is good thing. And ah really can’t stop smoke
weed because weed is life; weed is a medicine.” [males, 14-16, out of school]
Age and accessibility
Participants reported early drug use based on age group:
Alcohol
Alcohol was perceived as the drug of choice based on its consumption by children under the age of 12,
even as young as the toddler stage. When asked at what age young people used alcohol, one
participant stated:
“Once you could walk and you could drink.” [males, 14-16, in school]
Participants stated that children had access to alcohol through parents and family members and that
youth had greater access to alcohol because it was always available at home.
They further stated that in most instances parents and family members encouraged alcohol use among
young people particularly during the festive seasons like Christmas and carnival. Some participants
expressed disapproval of parents giving babies and toddlers alcohol to sip. Parents and adults were
perceived as poor role models since they themselves consumed the substance in the presence of young
people and therefore could not expect their children not to imitate their actions.
“It is a double standard. The adult around set a double standard; they would tell you
don’t drink and when you look at them and they are drinking more than ever, so therefore
you think why should they tell me not to drink when they are drinking. So why shouldn’t I
follow them.” [males and females, 20-24, in school]
Participants especially pointed out the ease which minors were able to purchase alcohol from shops
within the communities, but that it was more difficult to obtain in supermarkets. Nonetheless, they did
indicate that contrary to the law, some minors were able to purchase alcohol from supermarket during
the busy Christmas season. It was further reported that young people gained additional access to
alcohol through peers who carried it to school in their ‘juice box’, usually at the end of the academic
year.
Marijuana
Participants reported that young people generally used marijuana in their early teenage years.
However, it was stated that boys as early as 8 years were using marijuana but it was in the minority
and that age group was not aware of their actions and were more likely just following the crowd or
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