Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has long lurked in the background of Saint Lucia’s public health landscape, but the reality is far more pressing than most realise.
Behind the clinical language is a devastating story of lives lost too soon, particularly among our male population.
COPD is characterised by chronic inflammation of the lungs, which leads to obstructed airflow, respiratory distress and, in many cases, respiratory failure.
In 2022, medical professionals identified COPD as the third leading cause of premature death among Saint Lucian men. According to experts, that hasn’t changed.
Dr Stephen King, a pathologist, laboratory director, and former Chief Medical Officer, explains that the disease is also the leading reason for extended hospital stays, as patients typically require lengthy hospitalisation.
Also sobering are the economic costs. Many COPD patients, especially those in advanced stages, become oxygen dependent. “And that is another major expense,” King says.
A dangerous normal
At the heart of the crisis lies a difficult truth: many COPD cases among Saint Lucian men are linked to smoking, particularly the practice of mixing cannabis with tobacco, a trend that’s become dangerously normalised.
“Smoking in general is a no-no,” says King bluntly. “Smoke was never meant to go inside your lungs. It damages your lungs especially when you mix cannabis and tobacco.”
Certain smoking habits make some individuals especially vulnerable. Smoking is addiction-driven, due to the nicotine in tobacco, and this increases the risk of frequent and prolonged use. “In addition, people tend to draw the cannabis deep into their lungs….I believe that compounds the damage.”
Warnings to be heeded
For years, King and other health professionals have been sounding the alarm.
He credits Dr Christiana Nathaniel, Dr Martin Didier and Dr Lisa Charles with leading a study on the causes of COPD and the ages at which people in Saint Lucia were reaching end-stage lung disease.
“Many of our men are getting end-stage lung disease in their 40s,” King says gravely.
While women have historically been less affected, King warns that this trend is changing. More women are now at risk, largely due to exposure to and attraction towards lifestyles that encourage smoking and mixing tobacco.
Still, the issue runs deeper. At its core is a wider crisis of mental and emotional health, exacerbating a need to escape. “A lot of young people live under stress, lots of pressure,” King notes. “The world breeds insecurity these days.”
More than a physical illness
From financial instability to relentless social pressure, Saint Lucian youth are navigating a complex and often overwhelming world. That’s why King believes solutions must go beyond simply changing individual habits; they must also address the broader environment shaping those behaviours.
“Our young people need our support,” he says. “The older generation—those of us who are in a better position in life, having lived longer, and may have acquired more in terms of position, wealth or whatever —we should be in a position to create that environment that facilitates healthy development.”
