Sandy Lane boosts Project SOFT as NCSA warns of drug use at age eight

The head of the National Council of Substance Abuse is once again worried that more young people are using substances at an earlier age, linking this trend to new environments and relationships that might encourage drug use.

NCSA Manager Betty Hunte spoke at a ceremony on Thursday, where the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust donated $60 000 to celebrate 24 years of Project SOFT. This is an NCSA programme that has helped over 900 children prepare for secondary school and deal with challenges like drug use.

“Our school survey data show that some of our young people are beginning to experiment with adults as early as eight years old,” she said. “This is deeply concerning because we know that early initiation of substances can have significant consequences for young people if they progress to adulthood.