Health

Teen Health Survey Reveals Alcoholism And Obesity On The Rise

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A recent study by the Ministry of Health shows that alcohol consumption and obesity amongst teens are on the rise.

Published

5 months ago

July 3, 2025

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A recent study by the Ministry of Health shows that alcohol consumption and obesity amongst teens are on the rise.

This is the fourth population assessments of Bahamian teens in the last 27 years, and according to health officials the progression over the years is damning.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with other agencies, conducted the 2025 Global School Health survey.

The survey shows what Health Policy Lead, Cherita Moxey, calls a deeply concerning rise in substance use among teens in The Bahamas.

The data shows e-cigarette use is emerging at 17% while alcohol use is at crisis level.

“…Currently, 34% of teens are active drinkers, with binge drinking rising sixfold from 2% to 12% and drunkenness climbing from 21% to 27%,” Moxey said.

Moxey says more than half of the teens used illegal drugs by the age of 13

Additionally, life time cocaine use surged to 12 percent in 2023, while marijuana use more than doubled.

The survey revealed that overweight teens have increased by 135% from 1998.

Every two and five Bahamian teens are now moving above a health weight, with obesity tripling, jumping from 7% to 21%. These are major shifts in the health profile of a generation.

Physical activity among teens is on the decline, with only 15 percent getting the necessary physical activity.

On a more positive note, Moxey says teen sex health shows encouraging signs with more teens choosing to delay sexual activity, fewer are having sex under 13, and the number of teens with multiple sexual partners has declined; However:

“Nearly 50% of sexually active teens reported having unprotected sex, indicating that condom knowledge is not translating into condom use. This gap may be contributing to the recent increase in sexually transmitted infections as reported by the national HIV program earlier this year,” she said.

The report surveyed more than 2000 students on eight islands, namely Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma, Eleuthera, New Providence, Andros, and the Berry Islands.

The survey received an 80 percent response rate.

Lastly, serious injury among teens has jumped five fold, Moxey explains more than half of the teen population experienced serious injuries within a year.

“Weapon carrying increased from 13 percent to 18 percent, [and] gang involvement now stands at 8 percent. Bullying is up both on and off school grounds, increasing from 24 percent to 38 percent…”

“With the rise in digital media, 16 percent of our teens reported being harassed online,” she said.