Young people are increasingly grappling with intertwined mental health struggles and substance abuse, a trend linked to misconceptions about cannabis laws, family instability, and inadequate guidance, according to a senior counsellor at the Centre for Counselling Addiction Support Alternatives (CASA).Sherryl Griffith, CASA’s coordinator of services and senior counsellor, told Barbados TODAY on Friday that the non-profit organisation has seen a steady uptick in clients, particularly young people aged 12 to 18, presenting with overlapping mental health and substance abuse issues. She estimated that CASA has recorded a seven per cent overall increase in clientele recently, with three per cent to four per cent of that rise involving school-aged children. Many of these young clients are referred by schools or the courts due to behavioural concerns or drug-related offences. “The two areas—mental health and substance use—are showing up together in most of our assessments,” Griffith explained. “You can’t treat one without the other. And what’s worrying is how early these challenges are starting.” A key concern for CASA is the widespread public misunderstanding of Barbados’ amended cannabis legislation, particularly among young people who mistakenly believe the drug has been legalised. “There’s a misconception that because there’s a medicinal cannabis bill, cannabis is now legal for recreational use,” Griffith said. “That’s not the case. It’s still on our law books as an illegal substance, and young people are getting themselves into serious trouble because they don’t understand the limits.” She emphasised that many adolescents wrongly believe they can consume small amounts without consequence. “What we’re seeing is a culture shift—young people telling us, ‘It helps me calm down’ or ‘It opens my mind’. But open your mind to do what?” she asked rhetorically. “If the only place it opens your mind to is the block, we have a serious problem.” Griffith also highlighted an increase in clients self-referring or being brought in by family members as domestic tensions escalate.
