(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has raised concerns over alarming levels of substance use among Guyana’s secondary school students, revealing that 43% of those recently screened admitted to consuming alcohol.

Speaking on Friday at an awareness ceremony to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Dr. Anthony disclosed that 6,039 secondary school students were screened earlier this year. The findings showed that 43% had consumed alcohol, 32% reported vaping, while 5% admitted to using cannabis.

“Of the 6,039 students that we screened at the secondary school level, at least 43% said they have consumed alcohol, and the next more prevalent thing was vaping. So, 32% of these children said they would usually vape, and that must be alarming to us,” the health minister said.