Overseas guest speakers at the Second Multi-Addiction Conference made a real impact on young people attending the event, according to Health Minister Patrice Minors whose Ministry arranged the three-day conference at the new Berkeley Institute.

Among guests were New Jersey Police Sgt. DeLacey Davis, who spoke on his knowledge of street gangs, and former US gang leader Joseph Jennings who talked about his experiences within a gang and how he turned away from that lifestyle.

Mrs. Minors attended portions of the conference and said it had brought ?a wealth of individuals engaging our young people?.

She said: ?I had the opportunity to dine with speakers and I sat at the table with Coach Powell, DeLacey Davis, Guy Wheeler, and Joseph Jennings ? all men coming with a variety of experiences but a passion for seeing the lives of our young people improve.

?They came at the young people with a street-level approach, a very energised approach, and they drew the young people to them because they are passionate to see the young people and to address the issues of abuse, the issues of absent fathers, violence within their homes and how to deal with the issues, put them behind them and move forward.?

The Health Minister said she had been amazed to listen to the speakers and how they expressed themselves.

She said former gang leader Mr. Jennings had children following him around the conference because of the impact he had on them.

?It was fascinating to hear how they draw young people to them because there are so many young people out there who are looking for the father who is not there,? she added.

?Even the professionals who work in these fields, they were sitting there and you could see it on their faces ?Wow, this is pushing me to come with a different approach to how I am supposed to be counselling these people?.

?It is a conference that has spoken volumes to me and the young people that were there and it is something that we need to embrace our young people on their level.?