BASSETERRE: The St. Kitts and Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention (NCDAP) has achieved a major milestone in the nation’s prevention and education efforts with the official integration of the Living Above the Influence Primary School Substance Education Programme into the Grade Four curriculum across all public and some private primary schools in St. Kitts.
Developed by the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention, the Living Above the Influence programme is the Federation’s first standardised, evidence-informed substance use education and prevention initiative to be integrated in the school’s curriculum. Designed using prevention science, best practices, and feedback from local educators and guidance counsellors, the programme aims to build resilience, strengthen decision-making skills, and promote positive life choices among children aged 8–10 years old.
The revised second edition of the programme manual was clinically reviewed by Counselling Psychologist Mrs. Michele de la Coudray Blake, and approved for curriculum integration by the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Development Unit.
To prepare for nationwide implementation, the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention is currently conducting a two-day training session for 50 Grade Four teachers and primary school guidance counsellors on October 20–21, 2025, at the Customs and Excise Conference Room, Bird Rock. The training is being facilitated by Mrs. Karimu Byron Caines, Director of the National Council on
Drug Abuse Prevention, and Ms. Ishelle Huggins, Drug Misuse and Abuse Prevention Officer.
During the workshop, participants are being introduced to the programme’s interactive twelve-session curriculum, which combines substance knowledge, life skills development, and social-emotional learning strategies designed to empower students to make healthy, informed decisions.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Director Mrs. Karimu Byron Caines highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating,
“This is more than a curriculum; it is a movement. Through this programme, we are planting seeds of confidence, self-worth, and resilience in our young people, long before risky behaviours take root. Our teachers and guidance counsellors are the true change agents leading this charge.”
The Living Above the Influence programme has already attracted regional and international attention, having been commended by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) during its Demand Reduction Expert Group Meeting in August 2025.
Several Caribbean territories have expressed interest in adopting the model as a best practice in early prevention education.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Coordinator of Guidance Counsellors, Mrs. Sasha-Gay McDermott, stated, “ This collaborative training initiative, in partnership with the National Drug Council Secretariat, marks a pivotal step in equipping our grade four teachers and primary School Counsellors with the tools to deliver impactful, age-appropriate substance use prevention education. Through the Living Above the Influence programme, we are empowering our children early with the knowledge and values to make healthy, informed choices. As implementation begins, the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention remains committed to supporting facilitators through ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and technical assistance to ensure programme fidelity and impact.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Coordinator of Guidance Counsellors, Mrs. Sasha-Gay McDermott, stated, “This collaborative training initiative, in partnership with the National Drug Council Secretariat, marks a pivotal step in equipping our grade four teachers and primary School Counsellors with the tools to deliver impactful, age-appropriate substance use prevention education. Through the Living Above the Influence programme, we are empowering our children early with the knowledge and values to make healthy, informed choices. As implementation begins, the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention remains committed to supporting facilitators through ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and technical assistance to ensure programme fidelity and impact.