Groundbreaking Primary School Substance Education Programme

Basseterre, St. Kitts – October 21, 2025 – 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.

For more information, please contact:
National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention
Ministry of National Security
�� 869-467-1703 / 662-3938
�� sknncdap@gov.kn