Churches in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia have responded to the government’s request for help in fighting the country’s drug problems.  Representatives from a majority of the island’s religious groups attended the National Consultation of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council, held August 28, which aimed to set up a year-long, inter-faith program to combat substance abuse.

Wulstan Charles, director of health ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Lucia, says churches can fight drugs through education. He attended last week’s meeting and believes the concerted approach by religious groups represents an exciting move forward both for drug-use prevention and inter-church cooperation.

The initial meeting focused on defining substance abuse and examining current approaches to preventing substance abuse. Charles was selected to serve on a task force that acts as the liaison between the government secretariat and the religious community.

Clement Edward, an Adventist and director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, spearheaded the campaign to bring churches together to fight drugs.  He says the program will help institute a more unified, effective approach to the problem, rather than “everyone doing their own thing.”

Marijuana is the most common drug in St. Lucia, according to Edward. He says some dealers are targeting kids as young as 11 years old.

Charles plans to involve the Adventist Church’s youth organization, known as Pathfinders, as well as older youth in speaking out against drugs.

“Intervention and treatment is sometimes out of our league,” says Charles. “But we can reduce demand for drugs by educating our youth.” The project will build on the church’s existing anti-drug efforts, which this year included several marches throughout St. Lucia.

Charles has also recommended the government prohibit alcohol from all government functions. “We should set [high] standards,” he says.

St. Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea with a population of around 160,000 people, has 12,000 Adventist Church members worshipping in 33 churches.