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

the dangers associated with such practices and were more focused on the pleasure derived from their
activities.
Myths and youths’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS
It was indicated by key informants that young people were generally well educated about HIV/AIDS,
how it was contracted and prevent measures against contracting the virus. Nonetheless, some youth
were in denial that they could actually contract the virus. “Young people are always so carefree and
they don’t want to think about something that would prevent them from having fun or having them so
stressed out and worry, … and young people are becoming infected and this is a reality that they have
to learn to live with … but the problem is not so much that they don’t know, the problem is that young
people would want to do things that young people do without having to worry about HIV.” 27
Current Intervention Programmes & Effectiveness – Drugs & HIV/AIDS
Key informant indicated that there were presently many programmes in place to sensitize and educate
young persons and the public in general on drug prevention and HIV/AIDS. Institutions engaged in
intervention programmes were:
Young Leaders, which was a very educational and popular school-based programme, specifically
targeting young persons. Some of their most effective prevention strategies included the distribution of
ribbons along with house-to-house visitations and discussions on HIV/AIDS, television programmes,
the building of a resource center, flyers distribution and billboard installation. In times past, older folks
had engaged in prevention programmes. Young Leaders gave young people the opportunity to engage
in such programmes since they were “the leaders of tomorrow” 28 .
One of the most effective programmes of Young Leaders 29 was a visit to a primary school where
young persons were having sex as early as 8 years old. Facts were given, pictures were shown and
questions were answered. Drums were utilized to help convey the message of HIV/AIDS in a more
comfortable manner. Most effective was the fact that young persons were delivering the message of
the dangers of risky behavior to young persons, resulting in more interaction and none of the
intimidation the presence of older persons might have caused. A follow up indicated that some
children did change their sexual behavior.
Another effective programme was a motorcade, which resulted in the participation of most persons in
the community. Some persons in the community indicated “they were happy to see young people
taking the lead. This is because so many young people are involved in bad thing. It was good to see
some promoting positive things.” 30
One of the drawbacks of the Young Leaders activities was that if any member was perceived within
the community as engaging in negative behavior, then the impact was reduced. One way to combat
this problem was to withdraw any such member from public activity within the known community.
The Grenada Red Cross Society does not implement any direct drug prevention programmes but
focused on youth empowerment through Young Achievers programme. The agency believed that
instilling values and morals and the involvement of young persons in constructive activities were the
key to positive attitudes and behaviors among the youth. The HIV Peer Education Programme was
also a behavioral modification and youth empowerment programme, which stressed the avoidance of
risky situations and situational management. The camp approach was employed and the programme
has successfully trained an excess of 300 young persons throughout the island. One of the strengths of
the programme was the close bond that developed between facilitators and trainees. Programme
27 AIDS Educator, National AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health and the Environment, Grenada.
28 President & PRO, Young Leaders, Anglican High School, Grenada
29 Ibid.
30 Ibid.
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