To coincide with the global observation of International Youth Day on August 12, the Youth Arm of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) is organizing a targeted forum that brings together young community members and leading industry experts to confront the pressing public issue of youth addiction.
Titled “Healthy Choices, Strong Futures: Addressing Addiction Among Young People and Its Impact on the Workplace,” the panel discussion fills a critical gap in local public discourse, receiving formal backing from UNI Americas, a regional body that has flagged the rising rates of alcohol addiction, substance abuse, and compulsive gambling as top priority concerns for communities across the Caribbean. This event aligns with the ABWU Youth Arm’s long-standing mission to center youth voices on challenges that directly shape their personal growth, professional trajectories, and long-term holistic wellbeing.
In a recent interview with ABS Television, ABWU Youth Arm Vice President Charles Brown emphasized the far-reaching ripple effects of youth addiction that extend well beyond an individual’s personal life. Unlike many public discussions that frame addiction as a private struggle, Brown noted that harmful addictive patterns damage familial and social relationships, erode personal financial stability, and significantly undercut performance in professional workplaces.
Kimberly Gordon, Assistant Public Relations Officer for the ABWU Youth Arm, added that the event is designed to do more than just raise public awareness. By connecting participating young people with credentialed experts, the forum aims to deliver accessible, actionable insights and evidence-based guidance that empowers young people to adopt healthier life choices.
The assembled panel brings together cross-sector expertise to offer balanced, multi-perspective insight. Confirmed panellists include Dr. Sequoyah Survia, a licensed clinical social worker with specialized experience in addiction support; Olson Browne, Acting Human Resources Manager at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, who brings on-the-ground perspective on workplace addiction impacts from a major local employer; and Fernando Samuel, Senior Industrial Relations Officer at the ABWU, who will speak to labor sector perspectives on addiction and employment.
Organizers stress that the discussion will move beyond surface-level awareness building to facilitate practical, solution-focused conversations about addiction prevention, accessible support systems for those struggling, and sustainable recovery pathways. A core focus of the conversation will be unpacking the less frequently discussed systemic impacts of addiction on workplaces, including increased rates of unplanned absenteeism, lowered overall team productivity, higher risk of workplace accidents, heightened prevalence of workplace mental health crises, and increased employment instability for young people struggling with addictive behaviors.
Ultimately, the ABWU Youth Arm aims for the initiative to advance three key goals: encourage broader adoption of healthy lifestyle habits and responsible decision-making among young people in Antigua and Barbuda, strengthen collaborative dialogue between young people, frontline healthcare providers, local employers, and labor movement representatives, and build a foundation for more targeted action to address youth addiction in the region. The panel will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., hosted virtually via the ABWU’s digital platform and Zoom to expand access for young people across both islands.