Barbadian adolescents' knowledge of, and attitudes toward, drugs: an exploratory study

A questionnaire examining drug attitudes and use was completed by 414 Barbadian secondary school students. Self-reports indicated approximately 70% had tried alcohol, 30% had smoked tobacco, and 9% had tried marijuana. Only one had used heroin and none had tried cocaine. The great majority of students thought it important to be well informed about drugs, and that their government was not doing enough to provide the necessary education or to halt the cultivation and importation of illegal substances. Findings are discussed with reference to public and media concern about drug abuse in the Caribbean.