WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — Young people from Whitehouse and its environs in the parish of Westmoreland will stage a march against drugs between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Friday, April 12.

Ellen Campbell Grizzle, director of information and research at the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), which is co-ordinating the event, said the activity would supplement on-going efforts spearheaded by the agency’s western regional office in Montego Bay.

“The children of Whitehouse have observed the recent carnival happenings from a distance and this is a good time for them to see that a ‘drug free jump up’ is a lot of fun,” she said.

She said the NCDA has increased prevention activities in several fishing villages in Jamaica and has been monitoring the Whitehouse area for shifts in drug consumption patterns.

“We received anecdotal reports of a transition from marijuana to other substances in the Whitehouse area. Based on this, we did some additional research and have put in place a targeted public education programme to assist the community,” Campbell Grizzle said.

The young people will march from Culloden to Whitehouse Square where they will mass for a road show.