Carlos Lehder says He Ran a Cocaine Empire from a Private Island in The Bahamas

Carlos Lehder says he paid former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling 150,000.00 monthly via his agent, Everette Bannister

Brought to you by: Michael Franzese Wines

Carlos Lehder, a former associate of Pablo Escobar and one of the original co-founders of the Medellín cartel, sits down with Michael Franzese to talk about how he built and ran a cocaine empire from Norman’s Cay — a private island in The Bahamas. In this rare interview, Lehder breaks down the myths of the Medellín cartel, shares how he pioneered new smuggling routes into the U.S., and explains why the idea of a unified cartel is more Hollywood than reality.

0:00 – Carlos Lehder and his rise to the top 0:47 – Day in the life of a c*caine smuggler 1:30 – The truth about the Medellín Cartel’s structure 4:38 – Why Carlos bought a private island in the Bahamas 5:00 – Norman’s Cay and smuggling routes to the U.S. 6:00 – The Bahamas government transition and its impact 6:55 – How Lehder viewed the U.S. as his empire's

Nassau, The Bahamas - The Governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) PRESS STATEMENT on Carlos Lehder Interview

www.yourplp.org

Statement From the Progressive Liberal Party on Headline About Money Paid to Sir Lynden

For Immediate Release

The headline of 1 September 2025 on the front page of The Tribune, I PAID PINDLING 150K PER MONTH", is incorrect and misleading. It is also salacious and defamatory. However, because the law does not recognize defamation of the deceased, that outrageous allegation can be printed without legal consequences.

If one reads the story, a convicted drug trafficker, Carlos Lehder, who served time in prison for running cocaine into the United States, claims that he paid $150,000 a month to an intermediary whom he alleged was an agent for the late Prime Minister.

At no point does the story say that the drug trafficker ever paid anything to Sir Lynden. It is all after-the-fact, third-party hearsay nothing more than "he said, she said."

The larger point is that the source of the information is manifestly unreliable. The accusations cannot be tested because all the individuals against whom the allegations are made are deceased.

They cannot defend themselves. Sir Lynden is dead. Everett Bannister is dead. Gorman

Bannister is dead. These allegations, therefore, reflect cowardice, not truth-telling.

In The Bahamas, we often say, "Mouth can say anything." Around the world, it is said that paper will stand still for anything to be written on it. Convicted criminals often make self-serving statements. Newspapers, in turn, often print whatever will sell.

These allegations belong exactly where all other untested claims belong - in the garbage bin of history.

1 September, 2025

FNM Ratifies More Candidates for General Election 2026 in The Bahamas

On Thursday August 28, 2025 - The Official Opposition Party, the Free National Movement (FNM) ratifies seven more candidates for the next general election in The Bahamas  - Namely:

Heather McDonald - Englerston

Lincoln Deal - Freetown

Michela Barnett- Ellis - Killarney

Serfent Rolle - Tall Pines

Denalee Penn Mackey - Southern Shores

Trevania Clarke Hall - Seabreeze

Travis Robinson - Ft. Charlotte

$5,000,000 Bounty on Haitian Gang Leader, Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier

Haitian Gang Leaders Indicted

Haitian Gang Leader ‘Barbecue’ Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate U.S. Sanctions

U.S.-Based Co-Conspirator Bazile Richardson Arrested in Texas

An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, also known as Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Danger, and Lepe Blode, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier.  Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be Haiti.  Richardson was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas, and is expected to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Columbia.

Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier.

If you have information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at www.tips.fbi.gov. Information may also be provided to HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or online at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.

“Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.  “ The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”

“There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest.  He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia.  “The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs.  The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions.  Our office is committed to keeping Americans safe anywhere in the world, and the gang violence that has ravaged Haiti must end.”

“The FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate, and Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier’s gang is no exception,” said Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.  “Through intelligence, partnerships, and the full weight of federal law, we are dismantling FTOs and rooting out those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

“The unsealing of this indictment marks the results of a lengthy investigation into Jimmy Cherizier’s criminal activities,” said Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd M. Lyons. “ His actions to fund the oppression and slaughter of Haitians, including firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions, are unconscionable — but today marks a step towards accountability.”

“The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jimmy Cherizier, the leader of Foreign Terrorist Organization Viv Ansanm,” said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.  “The State Department will continue to apply its tools, including rewards programs, to combat the scourge of transnational organized crime and its violence — especially to stop the worst of the worst criminal ringleaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”

According to court documents, Cherizier is a former officer in the Haitian National Police and the leader of a gang known as the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies who helped to forge a gang alliance called Viv Ansanm that united Haiti’s many criminal gangs to oppose the legitimate government of Haiti.  On Dec. 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cherizier and designated him as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in serious human rights abuses in Haiti.  As a result of the SDN designation, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier absent approval from OFAC in the form of a license.

As alleged in the indictment, since Cherizier’s SDN designation in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson have together led a wide-ranging conspiracy with individuals in the United States, Haiti, and elsewhere to raise funds for Cherizier’s gang activities in violation of the sanctions imposed on Cherizier.

In particular, Cherizier and Richardson directly solicited money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora located in the United States.  After sending funds to intermediaries in Haiti for Cherizier’s benefit, the U.S. and Haitian co-conspirators would send Cherizier images of receipts from the money transfers.  Cherizier used these funds principally to pay salaries to the members of his gang and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti.

The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Providing valuable support are the FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices and the HSI Miami Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated August 12, 2025

Source

Haitian Gang Leaders Sanctioned Internationally

The UN Security Council Resolution, S/RES/2653 (2022) imposes a travel ban, an asset freeze and a targeted arms embargo in connection with the situation concerning Haiti, and establishes a Sanctions Committee and a Panel of Experts

Public Notice

RE: SPECIAL NOTICE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION –

UN Panel of Experts on Haiti - Security Council 2653 Sanctions Committee Per special notice and direction from the Office of the Attorney General and pursuant to Section 3A of the International Obligations (Economic & Ancillary Measures) Amendment Act, 2019 and resolution 2653 (2022), the Central Bank of The Bahamas (“the Central Bank”) hereby requires that all Supervised Financial Institutions (“SFIs”) licensed in The Bahamas, as a matter of high priority, review their client records to determine whether or not they hold funds, other financial assets or economic resources which are either owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the below names or entities listed on the Sanctions List or any person acting on their behalf or at their discretion, and report both positive and negative findings to the Central Bank.   Additionally, any positive findings (“hits”) are required to be reported to the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Attorney General.

1) Jimmy Cherizier aka Barbeque

2) Andre Johnson aka Izo

3) Joseph Wilson

4) Vitelhomme Innocent

5) Victor Prophane

6) Elan Luckson

7) Renel Destina

Inquiries or comments to this notice should be addressed to:

Analytics Unit

Bank Supervision Department

Central Bank of The Bahamas

Email: amlanalytics@centralbankbahamas.com

Issued: 6 August 2025

Source

UN Resolution 2653 (2022) on Haiti>>>

Travel Advisory for Haiti from The Bahamas

The Bahamas Government Issues Updated Travel Advisory on Haiti

Updated Travel Advisory for Haiti – 17th July 2025. 7:06 pm - Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas                    

SUMMARY - Avoid all travel to areas in Haiti impacted by gang violence, widespread kidnappings, political instability, and severe shortages of essential supplies.  All but essential travel is advised to other areas as described below.  There is a high risk of violent crime, including armed robbery, murder, and kidnapping; frequent civil unrest; limited access to airports and borders; and natural disaster risks (hurricanes, earthquakes).

AVOID ALL TRAVEL TO: Port-au-Prince (Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil, Martissant and other areas); the following Departments: Artibonite, Centre, Nord-Ouest, Nippes, Ouest, Grand Anse.  Also avoid border regions with the Dominican Republic.

AVOID ALL BUT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO The following Departments: Nord, Nord-Est, Sud, and Sud-Est including Cap-Haïtien, Jacamel, and Fort Liberte.  Travel with caution and refer to travel advice before departure.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS - Required Documents:

- Passport Must be valid for at least 6 months from entry date with at least one blank page.

- Visa: Not required for most stays for tourism or business.  A USD 10 tourist tax is payable upon arrival (cash only, in USD, EUR, or CAD; exempt for children under 5 and diplomatic passport holders).

- Alien Registration: Stays over 90 days require registration with the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration.  Non-compliance may result in fines or deportation.

- Financial Proof: No specific solvency requirements, but travellers should carry sufficient funds for their stay.

- Travel Documentation: Return/onward ticket required.  Proof of accommodation may be requested.

- Vaccinations: Yellow fever vaccination mandatory if arriving from a risk area.

- By Sea: Same requirements as air travel.  Private vessels require clearance from Haitian authorities; contact the Haitian Coast Guard for details.

- Immigration and Customs Declaration: Declare cash or goods over USD 10,000 to avoid fines or confiscation.

- A “Départ/Sòti” card is issued upon entry; retain it for departure, as loss may cause delays or fines.

- Border Screening: Expect rigorous inspections, including document verification and luggage checks.

- Electronic devices (phones, laptops) may be inspected; refusal to unlock may lead to delays, confiscation, or entry denial.

- Unaccompanied minors or those with one parent need notarized consent from both parents or a death certificate if applicable.

- Criminal records may result in entry denial at the discretion of Haitian authorities.

- Permanent Residents and Extended Travel: Bahamian permanent residents of Haiti face increased scrutiny if absent for over 6 months.  Apply for a re-entry permit before leaving.

Contact Haitian Immigration Service for details.

- TRAVEL BY AIR: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its prohibition on U.S. commercial flights to Port-au-Prince until September 2025, following gang attacks on aircraft in November 2024, which disrupted international operations.

Domestic flights from Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport to provincial cities (Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Jérémie) have resumed as of June 12, 2025.

Cap-Haïtien International Airport in northern Haiti and the newly designated Antoine Simon International Airport in Les Cayes in the south serve as the primary entry points for international travelers.  These entry points are considered safe.

Travelers can connect to Port-au-Prince via domestic flights from Cap-Haïtien or Les Cayes, though costs and security concerns may affect accessibility and reliability.

Bahamasair operates flights between Nassau and Cap-Haïtien on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays. Additional booking information is available here.

SAFETY AND SECURITY- Crime: Gangs control significant areas of the Port-au-Prince, including key roads and neighbourhoods like Cité Soleil, Martissant, Croix-des-Bouquets, and Bel Air.

Artibonite, and certain areas of Jeremie are also seeing increased gang activity.

Extremely high levels of violent crime, including armed robbery, murder, and kidnapping, especially in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and Artibonite.

Crime is less extreme in other areas but is still very prevalent, as gangs attempt to extend their reach beyond the capital region.

Rape is increasingly common in areas with high gang activity.

- Safety Tips: Avoid all travel to dangerous zones; only lodge at secure locations.

Stockpile essentials (water, food, fuel).

Avoid public transport, walking, or driving at night.

Use secure vehicles with locked doors and tinted windows.

- Haitian National Police (HNP) Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH)

Police presence is not guaranteed in all regions and departments.

There are rogue elements of the Haitian National Police, please exercise caution when approaching or being approached by HNP.

- Demonstrations and Civil Unrest: Frequent violent protests in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and other cities, often with road blockades and attacks on infrastructure.

A nationwide state of emergency is in effect, with curfews and enhanced police powers.

- Advice: Avoid protests, monitor local media, and comply with curfews.

- Terrorism: Capital and nearby zones beset by gang violence, with crowded areas (markets, transport hubs) as potential targets due to instability.

Stay vigilant and avoid large gatherings.

- Cultural Sensitivities - Ethnic Considerations: While The Bahamas and Haiti share a common heritage, the current security crisis transcends cultural or racial lines.  The primary danger for any traveller, including Bahamians, stems from the perception of being foreign or affluent.

- Produce and agricultural goods: The import of agricultural goods from Haiti is legal, but importers much ensure proper phytosanitary documentation is available.  Endangered species such as conch and other seafood require CITES-compliant documentation to be approved for entry.

- Firearms: Firearms are widespread among gangs and civilians.  Avoid areas with gunfire, especially at night.

Do not attempt to supply or procure firearms in Haiti under any pretext.

HEALTH - Medical Care:

Healthcare is severely limited, with under-equipped hospitals and frequent closures due to violence.  Payment is required upfront, even with insurance.

Public hospitals, especially those attached to Universities, have frequently become the target of gang efforts to destroy, terrorise, or vandalise premises.

Obtain travel insurance covering hospitalisation and medical evacuation.

- Vaccinations and Diseases:

Mandatory: Yellow fever (if from risk areas).

- Recommended: Cholera, hepatitis A/B, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, rabies, and malaria prophylaxis.

- Diseases: Ongoing cholera epidemic (since October 2022), dengue, chikungunya, zika, and malaria.  Use mosquito repellent, long clothing, and bed nets.

- Water and Food Safety: Drink only bottled or boiled water; avoid tap water and ice.

- Eat well-cooked food; avoid raw fruits/vegetables unless peeled.

- LAWS AND CUSTOMS -Legal Status and Identification:

Carry a passport copy with entry stamp at all times; police may demand proof of legal status.

Failure to produce ID may lead to detention or fines.

- Restricted Items: Medications: Carry prescriptions in original containers, limited to stay duration plus one week.  Include a doctor’s note.

- Controlled Substances: Cannabis and other drugs are illegal, with penalties including 1–15 years imprisonment and deportation for foreigners.

- Agricultural Products: Fresh fruits, vegetables, and seeds are prohibited.  Declare all food; fines up to USD 10,000 for non-compliance.

- Alcohol/Tobacco: Limited to 1 carton of cigarettes and 3 liters of liquor per adult; declare excess.

- Natural Disasters - Hurricanes: Season runs June to November, with heavy rains, floods, and landslides. Monitor National Hurricane Center and follow evacuation orders.

- Earthquakes: Haiti is seismically active (e.g., 2010 and 2021 quakes).  Tsunami risks exist in coastal areas.

- Climate Differences: Tropical climate with temperatures of 25–32°C and high humidity. 

- Rainy seasons: April–June, October–November.

- Pack lightweight clothing, rain gear, and sunscreen.

Beach/Coastal Safety: Strong currents and lack of lifeguards make swimming hazardous.  Avoid isolated beaches due to crime risks.

- CONTACT(S) FOR OVERSEAS OFFICES

If you are in urgent need of consular assistance, please email: consularcrisis@bahamas.gov.bs.

- Embassy of The Bahamas in Haiti Contact information:

12 Rue Goulard Place Boyer

Pétion-Ville, Haiti

Telephone: 242-376-8785

Telephone: 011-509-47345895

E-mail: bahamasembassyhaiti@bahamas.gov.bs,

- Local Emergency Services:

- Police: 114

- Medical Emergency: 117 (Ebola-specific; general services limited)

- Haitian Coast Guard: +509 2811 1111

Source

      

Bahamians Killed in Haiti

Reports of Two Bahamians Killed in Haiti

Two Jamacians Drown in Haitian Waters

13TH JULY 2025, 9:25 PM. Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas

The Ministry has received, via our Embassy in Port au Prince unconfirmed reports that two Bahamians were killed in Haiti.  The report from Île de la Tortue today is that three Bahamian males and a Jamaican male, while on a speed boat, were shot at by unknown persons, which resulted in two of the males being killed and another hospitalized. One male remains unaccounted for.

The Brigade de Lutte contre le Trafic de Stupéfiants (BLTS), which is the counternarcotics unit of the Haitian National Police (HNP) has confirmed that today, July 13th, 2025, “under the leadership of Acting Superintendent Jeir Pierre, the Port-de-Paix police and prosecutor’s office intercepted a rowboat heavily laden with drugs.  The result: two Jamaicans drowned, one body in the morgue, and a Bahamian in custody.  The BLTS seized more than 90 kg of cocaine.  Several other suspicious boats are believed to be still at large.  A first in the history of the Northwest.”

The Ministry is communicating with the official and relevant authorities in Haiti and will continue to monitor and provide updated information.

Source

The Worrying Behaviours and Trends among Teens in The Bahamas

The Bahamas Ministry of Health Global School Health Report 2025

The Vices and Challenges in the Life of Teens in The Bahamas

From the 2025 GSHS - The Bahamas

The literature is saturated with irrefutable links between chilchood obesity, adolesoent (teen) obesity and adult obesity.  A 2024 systematic review concluded that obese children and teens were five times more likely to be obese in aduilthood than their non-obese counterparts.

The review further revealed that around 55% of obese chidren become obese in adolescence: around 80% of obese adolescents will still be obese in adulthood; and around 70% will be obese over age 30.  In TheBahamas, 71.6% of adults are overweight.  Of this, 43.6% are obese.  Recall adolescent obesity in the country stands at 21%.

Food insecurity significantly impacts adolescent development, and is associated with low diet quality. poor health, and challenges in cognitive and social development. Adolescents facing food shortages are more likely to struggle with behavioral issues, lower educational attainment, school absenteeism, and experiences of bullying.

The impact is even more far-reaching, as adolescents experiencing food insecurity are also more prone to feelings of worry and shame, mental health challenges, and heightened vulnerability to unwanted sexual contact, exploitation early labor market entry, and involvement in the criminal justice system, all of which limit life choices.

In The Bahamas, 30 8% of teens curently experience food insecurity - a notable improvement from 43.7% in 1998.  However, this figure remains above the 27.5% global average for adolescent food insecurity.

In 2019, 33% of all Bahanians faced some level of food insecurity, a rate significantly higher than the global average of 9% but below the 43% average for the English-speaking Caribbean.

Sugar, fat and salt (in excess) have been recognized as nutrients of public health concern.  The vast majority of teens (71.7%) consume weekly diets high in fat, salt and added sugars.

By contrast, only 5.7% and 10.3% of teens eat the recommended daily intake (RDl) of fruits and vegetables, respectively.  These dietary habits are compounded by low physical activity levels, with 83.3% of teens failing to meet the minimum physical activity level.

These realities underscore that the nutrition quality of meals consumed by teens and physical activity need laser-focused attention and aggressive policy in-roads.

Given the increasing prevalence of NCDs in the general population, the increase in NCD risk factors among Bahamian adolescents has consequential implications for The Bahamas' ability to achieve and sustainably fund any universal health coverage scheme.

Basic health screenings or preventative health checks among teens are low, while beliefs contributing to vaccine hesitancy are notably high.  Among the preventive health behaviors surveyed, only eye examinations show a slight upward trend, albeit marginal.

Sexual behavior trends showed mixed resuts.  More teens abstained from sex in 2023 compared to previous survey cycles, and fewer sexually active teens reported having muitiple partners - 14.6% in 2023, down from 55.1% in 1998.

Despite this progress, risky bahaviors are still too common.  Among sexually active teens, there was a concerning gap between teens' knowledge of condom benefits (71.6%) and actual condom usage rato (47.7%) during their last sexual encounter.

Also, at that time, only 6.8% reported using hormonal birth control to prevent pregnancy.  Disturbingly, 56.6% of sexuallly teens initiated sexual activity at sge 13 or younger, with boys more likely than girls to debut early and have multiple sex partners.

The 2025 GSHS paints an unsettling profile of substance use among teens in The Bahamas.  The lifetime smoking prevalence of traditional cigarettes stands at 20.3%, and current prevalence is 11%, underscoring the persistent use of traditional tobacco products in Bahamian society.

Globally, however, e-cigarette use is outpacing traditional cigarette consumption among teens, a trend that is  mirrored in The Bahamas.  Although The Bahamas lacks multi-year data on e-cigarette use among teens, the 2023 GSHS introduces new insights into this emerging product.

Notably, while traditional cigarette use remains higher among boys compared to girls, the gender gap has narrowed significantly between 2013 and 2023.  In contrast, e-cigarette use is more prevalent among girls (17.6%) than bays (16.4%), with an overal prevalence of 17.2%, meaning nearly 2 in 10 Bahamian teens currently use e-cigarettes.

When compared internationally, the prevalence of e-cigarette use among Bahamian teens rivals global prevalences.  For instance, the average e-cigarette prevalence is 18.1% in Europe (2021); 17.4% in the United States (2022); and 1447, in Cenada (2022).

Within the Cabbean sub-region, e-cigarette use for Bahamian  teens is among the highest, equaling those of Trinidad and Tobago (17.2%), and significatly surpassing Antigua and Barbuda (4%), Jamaica (11.7%), and St.Lucia (11%).

Alcohol consumption is widesproad, with 73.9% of teans roporting use (excluding religious secraments), and 33.6% identifying as current alcohol drinkers.

Binge drinking and drunkedness are increasing, especilly among girls.  These statistics are disconcerting, especially given the survey sampling age was 12 to 18 years; and the national legal drinking age is 18 years.  There is a higher proportion of girls than boys engaged in the harmful use of alcohol- binge drinking and intoxication.

Lifetime illegal drug use is also on the rise - with  marijuana at 16.6% and non prescription opioids at 4.9%.  Cocaine use rose from 1% in 1998 to 12% in 2023.

Altogether, these are worrying trends.  Boys are more likely than girls to use illegal substances.

Opinions on access to drugs varied, with 29.3% finding it impossible or very difficult, 11.1% fairly difficult, and 16.5% fairly easy or very easy to accoss. Forty-three (43%) did not know the easy or difficulty of obtaining illegal drugs.

Source / Full Report