Anti-drug billboards unveiled
We’re always hearing that we shouldn’t drink and drive and to “say no to drugs”, but now the National Drug Abuse Control Council wants us to see as well as hear the messages. Today they unveiled their latest weapons in the war on substance abuse.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The 21 signs replace the original billboards erected countrywide almost 10 years ago. The signs are not only attractive; messages they send are far more relevant to today’s problems. The billboards look at general drug use, community and family, youth and education. Marlon McNab, NDACC’s Belize District Coordinator, says it was important that the signs be posted where they would catch everyone’s attention.
Marlon McNab, Belize District Coordinator, NDACC
“Because anything that is colorful and catchy will catch the eyes of people, especially children, because we are sending out a lot of these to the children them too. And besides the billboards…and we had them strategically placed like this one at the Swing Bridge is ideal. In Belize City we also have it around the cemetery, we also have it at the National Stadium, the MCC Grounds. We have one in Port Loyola area and also at the Constitution Park and one at the exit to the International Airport. So we do believe it is an effective way in sending out the message.”
The Billboards were produced at a cost of $36,000. The money was provided by the British High Commission, while the signs were designed by Image Factory Art Foundation. Tim David, The British High Commissioner to Belize says it was an honor to fund the project because he has seen just how quickly a young life can be ruined by drugs.
Tim David, British High Commissioner to Belize
“There are some amongst us, who at their first take of crack cocaine will be addicts for life. It doesn’t matter that you want to experiment, that’s it, there is no experiment left. You are gone, you are lost.”
The signs are part of a National Anti-drug strategy to eliminate drugs in Belize.
Allan Usher, P.S. Ministry of the National Security/Immigration
“These billboards which we are inaugurating today, represent part of an education campaign that will serve as a daily reminder, an awareness here in downtown Belize City and other strategic places in our major population centers across the country. They will be a daily reminder that the foremost resistance, the foremost victory against drugs, is the strategic hardening of our population, which is simply to say No and say No to drugs.”
Although there is a message for both the young and the old, it is the young population that’s being targeted. The National Youth Choir also had a message of their own for their peers.
National Youth Choir
“I am going to stand tall and we are not going to give up…”
NDACC says while there are no recent statistics available, drug use in Belize is on the increase. The organization says research reveals that the average age of first use is under 12 years old, drunk driving is the biggest cause of road accidents and almost one half of the prison population is behind bars because of a drug related problem. Despite these depressing facts, McNab says NDACC’s educational campaign continues and they remain optimistic.
Billboards have also been posted in Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo. In addition to the billboards, in April, NDACC will launch its Easter Anti-Drug Campaign: Think Before U Drink. The campaign will run from the 17th to the 25th. During that time there will be public road safety checks, distribution of flyers, bumper stickers and radio ads. Meanwhile NDACC has established a number of Drug Demand Reduction Task Force in each district to help the communities realize they do not need drugs to get high on life.
