STEER TOWN, St Ann — Residents of Steer Town in St Ann will today march against drug abuse and other social ills affecting youngsters, in response to research findings from the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

The NCDA, in a needs assessment survey in May, found that drug use as well as risky sexual behaviour was high among the youth in the community.

Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) community liaison officer for Steer Town, Kadian Hutchinson, said the NCDA is aiming to effectively prevent drug abuse among youth in the community, and will be using the survey to guide its action.

“Based on the findings, the youth population in Steer Town mostly abuse drug substances, whether it is marijuana or any other drug. This is sometimes associated with crime, illiteracy and gang involvement — problems which continue to occur in our community,” she said.

In addition to the survey conducted by NCDA, Hutchinson told JIS News that the CSJP, in collaboration with the Social Development Commission, developed a community priority plan for Steer Town, which highlights similar social ills that negatively impact the community.

“The NCDA survey has confirmed that there are social ills in the community,” she said.

Hutchinson also said that having heard the findings, the active social groups in the community decided to stage the youth march.

The march will also be supported by the CSJP, Men with a Message, National Council on Drug Abuse, churches in the community, the Steer Town Benevolent Society, schools, the police youth club, as well as the Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The march will begin at Steer Town Square and continue through the seven districts of the community.