Young people gathered at the San Pedro Lions Den on Wednesday, October 27th, for the San Pedro Tobacco and Alcohol Youth Forum, a collaboration between the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC), the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Held from 8:30AM to 3PM, the forum brought together students, health officials, educators, and social workers to discuss the risks associated with tobacco, vaping, and alcohol. The program combined health presentations with youth perspectives, advocacy discussions, and a session on alcohol dependence and recovery.
The event aimed to help young people understand substance-related risks, respond to peer pressure, and share reliable information with others. In her welcome remarks, Dr. Lucile Molina, medical coordinator at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, said the discussion needed to go beyond medical consequences and consider the decisions that lead to substance use. She acknowledged the pressure young people face to fit in while encouraging them to protect their opportunities and seek support when needed.
Molina also urged adults to listen, take young people’s concerns seriously, and guide without making them afraid to ask questions. She described the forum as a space for participants to share experiences and ideas, rather than receive warnings.
Throughout the day, sessions explored tobacco prevention, the dangers associated with tobacco and nicotine products, and the importance of healthy, tobacco-free lifestyles. Students also had an opportunity to reflect on choices surrounding alcohol use.
The San Pedro gathering formed part of a series of forums being held in towns and cities across Belize. In an interview, Dr. Andrei Chell, Director of Health Policy, Research and Planning, said the ministry was emphasizing health promotion and prevention. He identified tobacco use and alcohol consumption as risk factors for non-communicable diseases, which he said were among the country’s leading causes of death.
Chell also linked the outreach to the Tobacco Control Bill, saying it had passed the House of Representatives and was awaiting Senate consideration. He stressed that public education would continue beyond the forums, particularly as the proposed legislation advanced and people needed information about its provisions.
Dr. Karen Roberts, PAHO/WHO technical advisor for non-communicable diseases and mental health in Belize, addressed participants during her first visit to San Pedro. She warned that attractive packaging and flavors could make tobacco and alcohol products appealing to younger consumers. “You’re better off if you don’t initiate use,” Roberts told the gathering, encouraging students to ask questions and share what they learned with friends who could not attend.
In a separate interview, Esner Vellos, NDACC Director within the Ministry of Health and Wellness, said the forums were intended to develop young advocates who could explain the dangers of tobacco and alcohol to their peers. The agenda supported that approach with sessions on youth experiences and a call to action, along with presentations on prevention and health risks.
The next stage of the San Pedro outreach was on October 28th, with an adult awareness session and a community health fair. Vellos said adults would receive information about the Tobacco Control Bill, substance-related risks, and their role in helping young people avoid substance use. He said the health fair initiative would also travel across the country.
Chell identified schools, churches, civil society and other community stakeholders as important partners in continuing prevention efforts. The youth forum was part of a wider process intended to extend the discussion into homes, schools and community spaces, with young people sharing information and adults offering support.